WAR 

Comedy-Drama in 3 Acts 



CHAS. GOLDZIER 




Copyright 1914 

By CHAS. GOLDZIER 

115 Broadway, New York 



WAR 

Comedy-Drama in 3 Acts 

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CHAS. GOLDZIER 




Copyright 1914 

By CHAS. GOLDZIER 

115 Broadway, New York 



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Characters of Play 



General Von Freiberg 

Captain Stamm 

Mrs. Stamm 

Eugene 

Eva 

Constance 

Franz 

Bella 

Captain Hoche 

Monsieur de la Rue 

Orderly 

Sergeant 

Corporal 

Jean 

A Doctor 

Soldiers, Citizens, Guests, etc. 

Act I Scene 1 — Plays at the city of Metz before the 
war. 
Scene 2 — Three weeks later. 
Scene 3 — -The same day. 

Act II Scene 1 — Plays at Paris, one month later. 
Scene 2 — Plays at Metz the following day. 

Act III Scene 1 — Plays at Metz the day following. 
Scene 2 — Plays on a road to Luneville. 
Scene 3 — Plays at Chateau d'Un the same night 
and the following morning. 



INTRODUCTION 

"Think not I am come to send peace on earth. I 
came not to send peace, but a sword." — Matt. 10 : 34. 

A few leisure hours of my declining years have been 
devoted to the authorship of a play, which, since it does 
not deal with sex problems, murder or other crimes, is 
obviously unfit for production upon the modern stage. 

I have published it to discount a fame which may come 
to me long after I am dead and buried, and for the 
entertainment of friends — or foes. 

Possible criticism, which may depend upon individual 
taste or malice, is unanswerable. 

I hope, however, that I may not have transgressed 
upon American neutrality by endowing the German 
soldier with human attributes instead of representing 
him as a monstrosity. 

To me the warrior of whatever nation is a human 
being who is driven to inhuman acts by heredity, tra- 
dition, passion, and the compulsion of natural laws and 
social economic conditions, for which he is not respon- 
sible. I pity him for what he endures — and for what he 
inflicts. 

The palpable "Germanism" of my play is a territorial 
necessity of the plot. Within its limitation I have been 
fair to the cause of the French, for whom individually 
and as a nation I have the highest admiration. 

The grains of "philosophy" which may be found dis- 
seminated through some of the pages are not merely 



satire or sophistry, but comprise theorems which have 
been convincingly expounded in the writings of some 
ancient and modern scientists. I leave it to the ingenuity 
of my audience to cull their wheat from my chaff or vice 
versa. 

I decline to pollute my stage with human gore and 
have purposely avoided visible indications of carnage, 
but never fear, the inevitable warfare of extermination 
goes on merrily behind the scenes. 

I do not take myself too seriously, but have dealt with 
grave events lightly, not to say superciliously. My play 
does not pretend to preach, to teach, to reform — it aims 
to amuse. 

If it be objected that some of my situations are farcical 
—well, bitter pills must be sugar-coated, and I point to 
real life, which, in peace and war, commingles tragedy 
and comedy to an extent which would seem incredible 
were the fact not demonstrated by daily experience and 
observation. 

The final prophesy of a coming brotherhood of men 
is not in accord with past experience or the apparent de- 
sign of a benign providence, but is the suggestion of a 
glorious "pipe-dream," pure and simple. 

While my inclinations are strongly anti-militant, I have 
come to the reluctant conclusion that war is as truly a 
sequel to our civilization as it was its prelude, since 
immutable laws of evolution may not be denied or defied. 
To the victor the spoils, to the vanquished a grave. 
De saeculam ad saeculorem. What then ? Swim or sink, 
live or die, survive or perish — "semper paratus." 

And now let the curtain rise. 

December, 1914 Chas. Goldzier. 



ACT I 

SCENE 1 

(Corner of parade ground with fortress in the rear. The 
ground behind the scenes appears to be occupied by 
maneuvering troops, stamping of horses, signals. 
Soldiers guard barrier behind which are congregated 
spectators, officers and soldiers passing in and out 
of barracks.) 

First Citizen : Another maneuver. This time it is 
cavalry. There seems to be nothing but maneuver- 
ing, rifle practice, tramping horses, roaring guns, 
turmoil and noise day after day. 

Second Citizen : Yes, it reminds one of the war more 
than forty years ago, before you were born. I was 
a boy, but I remember the goings on just before the 
surrender by the French. There was drilling and 
marching of soldiery within the gate and out of the 
gate, the rumble of cannon, the digging of trenches, 
and we expected every day to hear the German guns 
and see balls shatter the walls of our buildings. It 
was exciting, and we boys enjoyed it. 

First Citizen : But now, in times of peace. We have 
lived here for a good many years and there was 
never anything like it. 

Second Citizen : And we taxpayers have to foot the 
bills for all that waste of valuable time and good 
amunition. 



First Citizen: Pst! (looking around cautiously) 

Friend, I would advise you not to talk so loud. This 

deprecation of our military sounds much like treason 

or sedition. 

Second Citizen: You know I was born French, and 

French I am at heart. 
First Citizen : At heart you may be what you please, 
but you are amongst the Germans, and must dance 
according to their music. 

Second Citizen : A conquered race 

First Citizen: Silence! I cannot listen to that talk 
against the country of my birth. I have nothing 
against France, but I am a German by birth, and 
German we will remain to the end of all times. 
A Voice : They are coming. 

(They turn towards the barrier from which is dis- 
tantly heard the clatter of advancing horses.) 
First Citizen : Don't they look splendid. They are in 
parade uniform. In war times they would be pressed 
in gray, so as not to be visible from any distance, 
but now their helmets glitter in the sunlight and 
they seem to be covered with gold all over. 
Second Citizen : I suppose that is the general staff. Is 

the one riding ahead Von Moltke? 
First Citizen: That is the staff of the Fifth Division, 
and I should know Von Moltke— I served in Berlin 
for three years. I am in the reserve. 

Second Citizen: Who are they? 

First Citizen : That is the staff of the Fifth Division, 



which includes Metz. General Von Brunn rides in 

advance. 
Second Citizen : Now the squadron has passed. Are 

these the Uhlans right behind them? 
First Citizen : Yes, they are preparing for a charge. 

Watch and you will see some riding. 
Voice : My God ! What is that fool woman doing there 

on horseback right in the road of the squadron? 
Voices : Where ? On the black horse ? I see. 
Voice : There, to the right. 
First Citizen : Her horse has run away with her. She 

is trying to hold it. 
Voices : She has fallen off. She is killed. Right in the 

way of the regiment. She will be ground to pieces. 
Second Citizen : Look at the man jumping right in in 

front of the horses, the fool ! What does he want ? 

He will be killed, too! 
First Citizen : No, he has grabbed her in time. He 

saved her. 
All: Bravo! Bravo! 
Second Citizen : He is bringing her here. Make room 

for them. 
{Franz enters with Eva in arm. She has apparently 

fainted. He lays her on a bench. They are sur- 
rounded by spectators.) 
Franz : Gentlemen, make room ! Give her air ! A glass 

of water ! Is there a doctor around ? 

(Enter Capt. Stamm) 

Capt. Stamm: What is the matter? (Approaching 
Eva, sinks on one knee.) My God, it is my Eva! 



10 



Speak to your father, little girl. Is she dead? 

{Doctor enters, examines her, feels pulse.) 

Doctor (to Capt. Stamm) : She has only fainted. No 
bones broken, although there is a bruise on her ankle, 
but nothing serious. How was she injured? 

First Citizen : She fell from her horse right in front 
of the cavalry charge, and would, have been trampled 
to death if this brave young fellow had not rescued 
her at the risk of his life. 

Capt. 5tamm (shaking hand of Franz) : My dear young 
man, how can I ever thank you for saving my 
daughter's life? 

Franz : Oh, it was nothing. Why, you don't know our 
Uhlans. They would have stopped their horses in 
time and one of them would have lifted her to his 
horse by an eyelash. She couldn't get hurt. 

Eva (recovering) : Where am I? What has happened? 

Capt. Stamm : You fell from your horse and would have 
been killed if this brave gentleman had not picked 
you up in time. 

Eva (to Franz) : How can I thank you for saving my 
life? (Giving him her hand, which he kisses and is 
about to leave.) You are not going to leave us with- 
out giving your name? I want you to meet my 
mother, so that she may thank you personally. 

Franz : You make too much of a little service. I assure 
you there was no risk. I know my Uhlans and 
their horses. 

Capt. Stamm : What is your name? Where do you live? 



11 



Franz : My name is Franz Frei. I live — well, it is sum- 
mer, nice and warm, and I prefer to sleep out in the 
woods. 

Capt. Stamm (observing him closely) : You do not look 
prosperous. 

Franz : I am not a bloated millionaire. 

Capt. Stamm : I did not want to offend you by offering 
you money, but 

Franz (interrupting) : I am not a professional life saver, 
and your daughter's life in any event would be price- 
less. 

Capt. Stamm : Well said, young man, but I want you to 
come home with us and have dinner. 

Franz : Dinner sounds well to a man who has eaten noth- 
ing since yesterday morning, but in these clothes 

Capt. Stamm : Never mind your dress. We will find 
something for you at the house. Are you really so 
poor? And what can be done for you? 

Franz: I need work and need it very badly. 

Capt. Stamm: Have you no relatives in Metz? 

Franz : I am a stranger. 

Capt. Stamm : Work? Do you want to join the army? 

Franz : No, sir, thanking you. I want work, not 

(interrupting himself ) . Excuse me. I did not mean 
to be offensive. 

Capt. Stamm : What can you do? 

Franz : Oh, anything that requires much physical exer- 
tion and a very little brainwork. 



12 



Capt. Stamm: Can you manage an automobile? 

Franz : Indeed I can. I am fully qualified as a chauffeur. 

Capt. Stamm : Then I can use you myself. I recently 
bought an automobile for 500 Mark; it is a beau- 
tiful machine, and I used to manage it splendidly, 
but during the last few months we have been kept 
so busy playing war that I found no time to use it, 
and my wife and daughter do not know how to run 
it, and seem to be afraid to learn. I will employ 
you as chauffeur for the present and we can see what 
can be done later. I can't afford to pay you much. 

Franz: So long as I can make any living I am well 
satisfied. 

Capt. Stamm (to Bva, who has been attended by doc- 
tor) : Eva, Mr. Frei will accompany us home and 
have dinner with us. 

Eva: I am so glad (trying to stand up). I am afraid 
my ankle is sprained and I will be unable to walk. 

Franz: I will get a carriage. (Exit and returns.) The 
carriage is waiting, Miss. 

(Captain and Franz assist Bva and exit while the 
scene changes.) 

Scene 2 

(Sitting room of Captain Stamm' s residence. 
Mrs. Stamm discovered sitting at table, sewing. 
Enter Franz.) 

Franz: Shall I serve breakfast, Madam? 

Mrs. Stamm: The Captain has not returned? 



13 



Franz : No, Madam. He went out very early this morn- 
ing and left word that he could not say when he 
would be back. 

Mrs. Stamm : This is provoking! Life was so peaceful 
until just a few weeks past, and now it is nothing 
but maneuvers and exercises, marching and counter- 
marching. He is hardly ever home. Why, the Gen- 
eral Staff must be crazy! If this goes on he will 
grow skinny, and he has become so nice and fat 
during the last twenty years of rest. It agreed with 
him. 

Franz : Why, Madam ! This sounds like high treason, 
or lese majeste, or something. The General Staff is 
infallible. 

Mrs. Stamm: Is Miss Eva downstairs? 

Franz : Miss Eva has been down in the kitchen for some 
time and is quarreling with the cook about how long 
it takes to boil a five-minute tgg. 

Mrs. Stamm : You may serve. I do wish the Captain 
would attend his meals as promptly as he attends his 
stupid maneuvers. 
{Franz has prepared breakfast table and about 

to leave. Enter Eva, much excited, in her hand a 

closed envelope.) 

Eva : Oh, Mama ! Mama ! a letter from Paris. Eugene's 
handwriting. Dear Eugene ! {Hands letter to Mrs. 
Stamm, who opens and reads it.) 

Eva: Is he coming? How I long to see him after two 
weary years of absence ! 

Mrs. Stamm {embarrassed) : He does not say that he 



14 



will come. I fear I cannot make out 

Eva : Can't I see Eugene's letter ? Does he not write to 
me? Does he not mention me? 

{Enter Franz with breakfast service. Mrs. 
Stamm places her finger to her lips, indicating silence 
to Eva, and continues perusing the letter, while 
Eva observes her anxiously. Exit Franz.) 

Eva (excitedly) : The letter, Mama! I want to see the 
letter. 

(Mrs. Stamm hides the letter in her bosom and 
pours out coffee, while Eva looks surprised. The 
clatter of a sword is heard outside.) 

Mrs. Stamm: Your father! Not a word to him about 
the letter, do you hear? 

(Enter Captain Stamm. Behind him, Franz, 
who assists in relieving him of helmet and sword.) 

Capt. Stamm (shaking himself) : Good morning, chil- 
dren. This is a dog's life. These recruits will break 
my heart. There I have been drilling them since 
five o'clock. Shoulder arms! Carry arms! March 
right! March left! and this all of a sudden. One 
would imagine the enemy were before the gates of 
Metz (drinking coffee which Mrs. Stamm has served 
him). Oh, this is good! Eva, will you go to the 
kitchen and prepare my eggs? You know how I 
like them. That confounded cook always says that 
five-minute eggs must be boiled for ten minutes. 

(Exit Eva and Franz.) 

Mrs. Stamm: More coffee, Father? 



15 



Capt. Stamm : Just a little. Any news from Eugene, 
Mother? 

Mrs. Stamm (stammering) : No — none that I know of. 

Capt. Stamm : What the devil is the matter with tht 
boy? We don't see him, we don't hear from him 
lately. You know, Triene, I don't like this French 
business. Why didn't the boy stay here or go to 
Berlin, if you please? If he is an artist, we have as 
good colleges and art schools here as they have in 
Paris or anywhere else. I want him to become a 
good German, and not have him imbued with 
Parisian mannerisms and notions. 

Mrs. Stamm : But, Father— — 

Capt. Stamm (interrupting) : Yes, I know you Lor- 
rainiens don't feel that way. I don't blame you who 
are born under French rule, but my children are 
born Germans, and Germans they will remain to the 
end of their existence. 

Mrs. Stamm : But Constance? 

Capt. Stamm: Constance! always Sister Constance. He 
is our boy and should be home. 

Mrs. Stamm : Now, father, be reasonable. Sister Con- 
stance is rich, while we have only enough to secure 
a dowery for our Eva. Constance promised to look 
out for our boy and make him her heir if we sent 
him to Paris. She has done well by him ; he likes 
her home. You would not spoil the future of your 
child? 

Capt. Stamm : Well, have it your way, but he will have 
to return soon to serve his time in the army. (Bn- 



16 



ter Eva, carrying dish.) Well, Eva, how are the 
eggs? 

Eva: Just as you like them, Pa, but I had to pull the 
cook's hair to rescue them. 

Capt. Stamm (laughing) : War in peace, and Germany 
conquers. (He is served by Bva and eats hurriedly.) 
Now, children, I have to leave you again. Duty — 
infernal duty. We have a riding lesson. Just think 
of it, with that girth ! With my avoirdupois — I who 
get seasick when I ride on a rocking chair. The 
horses actually laugh when they see me and shed 
bitter tears after I have mounted (ringing bell. 
Enter Franz.) Franz, my spurs and riding breeches. 

Franz : Shall I saddle the horse ? 

Capt. Stamm: No, stupid! Saddle your machine. I 
want to be as comfortable as I can until I get to 
that wretched riding school. When I get through 
with this I won't want to look a horse in the face. 
With automobiles and aeroplanes, what do we want 
horses for, and what business has the infantry on 
horseback, anyway? The next thing they will have 
me mount a submarine. But orders are orders. 

(Exit Franz.) 

Mrs. Stamm and Eva (embracing and patting Capt. 
Stamm) : Poor dear, such a bother! 

Capt. Stamm (kissing them) : Never mind, there will 
be an end to this some time. I will not be home for 
dinner. Good-bye. 

(Exit with Eva, who clings to him.) 



17 



Mrs. Stamm {takes letter from her bosom, stares at it, 
cries) : My God ! my God ! where will this end ? 
Why did I permit Constance to have her way ? How 
can I excuse this — how explain it to my husband? 
Poor Eugene ! (Her head sinks to the table, above 
the letter; hides her face, sobbing.) 

(Enter Bva.) 

Eva (rushing to Mrs. Stamm, placing her arms around 
her shoulder) : Why, Mama, in tears ! What ails 
you? (Sees letter. Frightened.) Eugene? There 
is nothing the matter with him? He is not sick? 
Mama, I must know. Give me the letter. 

Mrs. Stamm (handing her letter) : Eugene is well. 

Eva (perusing letter) : Dear Eugene, he seems to be 
very happy. How interestingly he writes and (clap- 
ping her hands) he will be home soon! He will 
be home soon ! He expects shortly to graduate from 
St. Cyr. Mama, is St. Cyr not a military school? 

Mrs. Stamm (hesitant) : Yes, a military college. 

Eva (surprised) : A military school? I thought Eugene 
was studying art and was to become a painter. He 
always showed great talent. Why, I have some of 
his little pictures which he sent from Paris. They 
are beautiful. 

Mrs. Stamms (listless) : Your brother has great talent. 

Eva (joyously) : So Eugene is to graduate as an officer. 
Just like father, and he will fight battles and become 
a great commander and join the General Staff and 
be decorated. How jolly! 

Mrs. Stamm : He will graduate into the French army. 



18 

Eva (surprised): The French army? He, a German! 
He was born right here in Metz. 

Mrs. Stamm : So were you — so was I. 

Eva (spiritedly) : Well, we are Germans. 

Mrs. Stamm (placing her arm around Bva's waist) : Of 
course you are German, my dear. 

Eva : And you ? 

Mrs. Stamm : You cannot possibly appreciate my posi- 
tion in this matter. I was born when Alsace-Lor- 
rain was French territory. I was brought up in a 
French school. I spoke French. I thought French. 
My heart, my sympathies were with France, and 
when we became German provinces the change was 
heartbreaking. 

Eva : You married a German. 

Mrs. Stamm : Ah, Eva ! love knows no country and mar- 
riage recognizes no boundary. My husband is a Ger- 
man — so am I (smiling). Some time you may come 
to understand that feeling. 

Eva : Why did Eugene ever go to Paris ? 

Mrs. Stamm (seating herself on a lounge and drawing 
Eva towards her) : You know your Aunt Constance 
married a Frenchman, the Marquis Chambord. He 
was old and very rich. They traveled and eventually 
settled down at his chateau near Paris. He died 
without children, leaving his fortune to your aunt. 
She felt very lonesome and importuned us to send 
Eugene to her. She promised to keep him as her 
own child and make him the heir to a large fortune. 
W r e are not rich — your brother exhibited great talent 



19 



for painting, and so your father and I agreed that 
it would be best to accept Constance's proposition 
and have him brought up in Paris, the great center 
of art. 

Eva : But he is not studying art. 

Mrs. Stamm : Yes, he has an excellent teacher and has 
made tremendous progress in painting. 

Eva : But he is at a military school. 

Mrs. Stamm : Well, you see, his aunt insisted. 

Eva: Insisted? 

Mrs. Stamm : She was providing for the child's educa- 
tion. She had substantially adopted him. She 
begged so hard to have him become a soldier. I let 
her have her way. 

Eva: And Papa? 

Mrs. Stamm (wringing her hands) : Oh, Eva dear, he 
does not know ! He would never have consented. 

Eva (rising, surprised) : So you and that precious aunt 
of mine conspired behind father's back to make a 
French soldier of my poor brother ! I declare 

Mrs. Stamm : Oh, dearie, you mustn't speak so of your 
mother and your aunt ! 

Eva : Aunt Fiddlesticks ! Why didn't she adopt me ? 
Why doesn't she leave her fortune to poor me? 
(Takes photograph from bureau and looks at it 
attentively.) Mama, I do not approve of that close 
intimacy between a young man and (grudgingly) 
a good-looking young widow. (Stamping) I will 
rescue the poor dupe from that — that — French- 



20 



woman! (Throws photo on table and hurries 
toward door.) 

Mrs. Stamm: Eva, child! What's got into you? Why, 
I never saw you in such a temper. 

(Enter Franz, announcing.) 
Franz: Miss Van Glan. 

Eva (rushing to visitor, embracing her) : Bella dear, 
what brings you to Metz? Or is it your ghost? 

BfjJvA : I am on a visit to my sister ; you know she has 
married an officer and has settled in your city. 

Eva (introducing) : Mama, this is Bella Van Glan, my 
dearest friend at college in Berlin. This is my 
mother. I hope you are here for a long stay. 

Mrs. Stamm : I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Bella. 
Why, Eva never gets tired talking of you. But I 
suppose you girls will have lots to say to each other, 
and girlish confidences are not for the ears of an 
antique. So I will attend to my household duties 
and leave you two together. Will you dine with us ? 
Yes? How nice. Au revoir. (Exit through a side 
door.) 

(During that scene Franz had stood at the door 
in stiff military attitude, evidently intent upon re- 
moving the breakfast service, but prevented from 
doing so by the fact that the ladies were grouped 
around the table, and Bella had from time to time 
looked at him slyly.) 

Bexla (aside to Eva) : What is it? (nodding toward 
Franz). 



21 



Eva (surprised) : What is what? 

Bella : Is it alive ? 

Eva: Why, Bella, what do you mean? 

Bella: I would like to stick a pin into him to see him 
jump. 

Eva (shocked) : You naughty girl ! Are you trying to 
flirt with our poor Franz? 

Bella (laughing): Franz! What a funny name! It 
sounds quite French. 

(They have left the table and Franz has gathered 
up the tableware. Exit Franz.) 

Eva : Yes ? Franz is a good boy. 

Bella (laughing) : A boy? Why, he is a perfect giant. 
Who is he and what is he? 

Eva (superciliously) : Oh, we don't know his family 
history. He snowed in this summer. Papa engaged 
him as a chauffeur. You know, we have an auto- 
mobile now, but we use him as a butler, a secretary, 
and in his off hours he instructs me in music and 
Latin. 

Bella : Oh, I see, a sort of maid of all work. He does 
not make your dresses and comb your hair? A 
chauffeur as a teacher. You must be making rapid 
progress. 

Eva : Bella, be sensible. What are you up to this morn- 
ing? Anything special? 

Bella: I almost forgot. I am on a shopping tour for 
my sister. I never imagined that there was any- 
thing to buy in your jay town. 



22 



Eva: You do us a great injustice. We have splendid 
stores and the latest models direct from Paris. 

Bkixa: From Paris? I never knew that you German 
patriots would be the slaves of the modes of France. 

Eva : Indeed we are. You remember the verse from our 
immortal poet, "The German does not love the 
Frenchman, but gladly drinks his glorious wines." 
Now, if you will wait here a minute until I get my 
hat and gloves I will accompany you and show you 
the glories of our metropolis. Make yourself at 
home. (Bxit.) 
(Bella sits down and takes a book pensively.) 

Beu,a: So she takes lessons in Latin and music (sigh- 
ing). Lucky girl! 

Franz (enters, sees Bella — about to withdraw) : Excuse 
me, Miss, I 

BeXla : Don't leave, you do not disturb me at all, Mr. — 
Mr. 

Franz (smiling) : Franz. 

BEXivA: So you are the music teacher. 

Franz (surprised) : The music teacher? I am the 
chauffeur, Miss. 

Be;ixa : But you instruct the young lady in music and in 
Latin — if I am not mistaken. 

Franz : Oh, those are side issues. My professional occu- 
pation, if I may so express myself, is that of the 
tamer of a bucking automobile. 

BsiXA : Where do you get all this knowledge from ? 



23 



Franz : I graduated from Heidelberg University cum 
laude and also from the Berlin Conservatory. 

Bella : University, Conservatory ! and yet you do menial 
labor ? 

Franz : You see, Miss, at one time I was very poor. 
The teachings of universities and conservatories do 
not fit one for active existence. They are good for 
the rich. Some weeks ago I was actually starving. 
I could not earn enough to keep body and soul to- 
gether. I was in despair. Captain Stamm met me, 
employed me — nominally as a chauffeur. He was 
very kind. The family is not rich and could not 
afford many servants, so I gradually adapted myself 
to their requirements. I am well treated, the work 
is not hard, I am satisfied. 

Bella (archly) : And the daughter of the house? 

Franz (int erupting, seriously) : The daughter is a mere 
child and I am a loyal servant, no more and no less. 
Excuse me, Miss, I hear Miss Eva. I must clear 
the table. (Folds up tablecloth, places it in bureau 
drawer. Exit.) 

(Enter Bva, fully dressed.) 

Eva: Here I am. Did I keep you waiting? Were you 
lonesome ? 

Bella (gushing) : Oh, he is just splendid! 

Eva (looking around in surprise) : What are you talking 
about ? 

Bella : Such a figure ! Such a strong face ! 

Eva (looking at a picture on the wall) : Are you gushing 



24 



about grandfather? I never appreciated his tran 
descendant beauty. 

Beixa : And such glorious hair ! 

Eva {shaking Bella): You are dreaming! Wake up! 
He is perfectly bald {pointing at picture). 

BEUvA {examining picture attentively) : You don't un- 
derstand. You are so prosaic. Of course I meant 
that beautiful expansive dome where his hair ought 
to be. 

Eva {provoked) : You little fool ! The idea of enthusing 
about a homely old man who has been dead these 
twenty years. Come along. 



{Exit.) 



Scene 3 

{Parade ground. A squad of recruits is being exer- 
cised by a sergeant.) 

Sergeant: Left, left, left. Can't you miserable scoun- 
drels keep decent step? One would imagine your 
feet are made of lead and that the plumber had for- 
gotten to hinge your knees. You red-headed son of 
a sea cook in the second file, do you think you are 
handling a pitchfork? Can't you see your gun shed 
tears and hide her face in shame because you don't 
know how to handle her? May ten thousand thun- 
derbolts strike the heads of such dolts and miscreants 
as I have in this squad. 

{Enter Captain.) 



25 



Captain : Sergeant ! 

Sergeant (saluting) : Sir. 

Captain (severely) : Sergeant, don't you know any bet- 
ter than to abuse your men? The 50th Rule ex- 
pressly prohibits any abuse of a private by a non- 
commissioned officer. You have served long enough 
to know your rules. 

Sergeant: Yes, sir; but 

Captain : No but. Rules are made to be obeyed and 
enforced, and if the non-commissioned officers break 
them, what can be expected from the privates? 
These men are human beings like you and I. 

Sergeant : Begging your pardon, sir, I hope not. Why, 
even monkeys would not think of attending a drill 
without being properly shaved and having their uni- 
form buttoned, and snakes would feel ashamed if 
they were unable to march in better step than these 
fellows. 

Captain : When you come to drill monkeys and snakes 
you may address them any way you like, but for the 
present your instructions are to use civil language 
to your subordinates. This is final. 

Sergeant: Yes, sir. (Exit.) 

(Enter General Von Freiberg. Captain saMtes. 
Salute is answered by General, who is about to pass, 
but looks at Captain closely and approaches rapidly.) 
Genera^: Do my eyes deceive me, or is this Captain 

Stamm ? 
Captain (saluting) : Captain Stamm, at command, Gen- 
eral. 



26 



General: Why, Albert, old horse, don't you recognize 
your schoolfellow, Carl? 

Captain : Is this really you, Carl von Freiberg? I would 
never have recognized you. 

General : It is fully twenty-five years since we met last. 
We were then two good-looking young fellows and, 
if I am permitted to say so, neither of us has im- 
proved in looks. 

Captain : Yes, we are growing old. 

General: And what is worse, fat and bald. I didn't 
know that you were stationed here. How has the 
world treated you since our last meeting? 

Captain : I am married, have a splendid wife who 
brought me a small dowery, two fine children, take 
life easy, and have advanced very slowly in the 
service, as you may perceive. But how is it that 
you have made such rapid strides? A general of 
division at your age without a war! 

General : You have struck it — without a war. 

Captain : Are you still exploiting your peculiar philoso- 
phies about peace and brotherly love? You, a 
soldier. 

General: I am most essentially a man of peace, but I 
had three essentials which are bound to lead to suc- 
cess in any vocation. 

Captain: They are? 

General (sententiously) : Push, pull and luck, particu- 
larly luck. 



Captain : I do not quite comprehend. 



27 



General: You see, when I started out in life I was 
bound to succeed somehow or other. I had no 
means, no talents, and was inclined to be lazy. I 
adopted a military career as the road of least resist- 
ance. A helmet may cover a great area of cerebal 
vacuity which a civilian's headgear would expose, 
and the glitter of a uniform to the viewpoint of the 
populace supplies that vista of gold of which your 
pockets may be barren. The occupation is pleasant 
in times of peace and healthful even in war — if you 
manage to keep well in the rear. I have influential 
acquaintances, as you know. I am a good student 
and theoretically became Napoleon Bonaparte and 
Frederic the Great rolled in one. 

Captain: Theoretically? I fail to understand. 

General : I announced so often that I was as great as 
Napoleon and Frederic until everybody believed it. 
They are willing to take me at my own valuation. 

Captain : Oh, I see. 

General : I am really greater than either of them. 
Captain: How is that? — Not that I doubt it for one 
moment. 

General : They are dead and I manage to keep alive. 

Captain : Of course, the dead are always wrong. 

General: Not always. They are protected by the an- 
cient "de mortuus nil nisi bonum" as to which there 
is no synonym applicable to the living — except pos- 
sibly in the Bible. 

Captain : Go on. I am interested. 

General: My luck, which prevented a war, has saved 



28 



me from being found out. I am still one of the 
greatest generals of all ages without having caused 
the death of a solitary human being. 

Captain : I see ; but if there were a war, how could you 
reconcile your ideas of brotherly love with your 
vocation ? 

General: That is dead easy — excuse the slang. I hate 
the slaughter of animals, but I love meat. 

Captain : I do not see the application. 

General: The butcher slaughters the animal without 
my consent and I eat the animal because it is dead. 
Thus I please myself and support the butcher. The 
poor beast would not become alive if I did not eat 
it, and its disposal by use prevents a useless purifi- 
cation of the carcass; besides which, I assist nature 
in its course of evolution and hence eventual per- 
fection. 

Captain : This is too deep for me. 

General: It is simple. Death is inevitable. Why? 
Nature, in its more or less successful attempts to 
perfect, must needs destroy what it has previously 
created. The Malthusian theory, if nothing else, 
would require such destruction, hence when we 
destroy a sentient being, we aid nature in the speedy 
accomplishment of a laudable object. From the 
earliest dawn of history warriors have been the 
instruments of civilization. They hewed the way to 
progress. It required a strong arm and a sharp tool. 
Civilization has its root in the graves of those slain 



29 



Captain : I see a light. 

General : Let me proceed. The saying, A good Indian 
is a dead Indian, should be extended to other races. 
Perfection will not be attained until the human race 
has been exterminated, and, if evolution be an eternal 
law, nature may build a better civilization out of a 
defunct humanity. For that reason, while I deem 
war a somewhat painful, brutal and expensive pro- 
motion of an eventual civilization in accordance with 
natural laws of evolution, yet the end sanctifies the 
means. The soldier is the natural civilizer, the true 
altruist and reformer. 

Captain: But where does your brotherly love come in? 

General: Albert, I am surpirsed at your dullness of 
understanding. Our friends appreciate us only after 
we are dead, and we love our enemies when we have 
killed them. The Golden Rule flourishes in grave- 
yards and on battlefields. 

Captain : Your philosophy is beyond compare ; if it is 
generally adopted, every child will be born with a 
sword in its hand and you will become generalissimo 
of all the armies of the world. But what will you 
do if your war, instead of remaining a mere theory 
for discussion, should actually happen? 

General: Don't worry, my dear boy; that contingency 
is not so far off. (Looking around cautiously) I 
feel it in my sword. The blade rattles ominously 
in its scabbard and the hilt looks up at me appeal- 
ingly like a child clamoring for the touch of a 
friendly hand. You know we are in the midst of 
what are called maneuvers, but really a preparation 



30 



for war. That is what brought me here. I am 
inspector of maneuvers and travel from garrison to 
garrison. Of course, this is confidential. War must 
be prepared for gradually, but sprung upon a con- 
fiding public suddenly in order to catch their enthu- 
siasm. You see, as civilization advances, armaments 
must keep pace. We soldiers can't afford to remain 
old fashioned. 

Captain : Of course not. 

General: As each nation improves its armaments, the 
other nations not only strive to emulate but to excel. 
That is in accordance with economic laws of compe- 
tition. Now, as to articles of daily use or consump- 
tion, their improvement is easily demonstrable in 
the ordinary course of events. Not so as to arma- 
ments. Enormous sums are spent by the different 
governments in the improvement of arms and the 
discarded guns become mere junk. Now, there comes 
a time when the peoples are getting restless at the 
continuous expenditure of their money for products 
which appear to be entirely useless, and we are 
bound to demonstrate by their effective use that the 
money has not been wasted. 

Captain : How wonderful ! According to you, to exter- 
minate and be exterminated is merely an enjoyable 
incident in the march of civilization. 

General : Not pleasant, but most effective. But to con- 
tinue: The new armament is put to use, shows its 
effectiveness, and is destroyed in activity. The popu- 
lace has an occular demonstration of the proper 
application of its money and is pleased to spend 



31 



larger sums in the renewal of munitions which have 
been destroyed. We commence anew building upon 
the improvements of the past. Thus we progress 
to kill and kill to progress; again directly in accord 
with principles of evolution. Do you see? 

Captain : It is perfectly plain. I can't see how any 
reasonable person can possibly object to war after 
hearing you explain its necessity and making it so 
attractive. 

General: Of course all this is known to the General 
Staff, but must be kept from the knowledge of the 
rabble, until everything is ripe for action. Soldier- 
ing is an easy way of living and we don't like to 
lose our jobs by educating others. 

Captain : I see. But how about the personal equation. 
You acknowledge yourself eminently a man of peace. 

General: True, but my philosophy, while intended for 
piping times of peace, is most elastic and can be 
expanded to meet any emergency. 

Captain : Please explain. 

General : I rely upon the "Gold Dust Twins." 

Captain : The "Gold Dust Twins"? Who are they? 

General: Pluck and bluff. The one glitters, the other 
blinds. I may be a fat philosopher, but I am 
not a poltroon, and, right or wrong, stand by my 
country, which has nurtured and fattened me. 
Every pound of my philosophy is mixed with a 
few grains of common sense. I am the cog of a 
piece of machinery intended for destruction as a 
means of civilization, as I have explained. I must 



32 

be either strong enough to withstand the pressure of 
my surrounding cogs and cams, or I will be broken, 
to be replaced by an improved device. I must do 
my duty in order to exist, or give the appearance of 
doing my duty, so that my actual inefficiency should 
not become apparent ; the former is pluck, the latter 
is bluff. I incline in both directions and thus have 
a decided advantage above others. I push forward 
where others might hold back. 

Captain : As a combination of philosopher and soldier 
you are a perfect marvel. 

General: Let me continue. An invasion into a neigh- 
boring country is required as a politico-economic 
necessity, with which I have no concern. The taking 
of a fortress becomes a strategic necessity. The 
General Staff demands its investment. I merely 
obey that behest. If I did not, some one would, 
perhaps not so well. I give my commands to 
subordinates and the fort is taken at great loss of 
life. The ensuing slaughter is not a fault of mine, 
but is the result of a combination of natural laws of 
gravitation, repulsion, cohesion, capillary attraction 
and what not, for which I am not to blame. Per- 
sonally I would have much preferred to take the 
fort amid a shower of roses and confetti. 

Captain: Bravo, Carl! With the application of your 
practical altruism you are bound to become one of 
our most distinguished generals and to return from 
the war covered with glory and crowned with a halo 
of sanctity, after causing an amount of carnage, the 
mere contemplation whereof would make us ordinary 
mortals shiver in our boots. 



33 

(The sound of trumpets is heard.) 
General : The maneuvers have commenced. To horse, 
to horse ! By leading our men in time of peace we 
must teach them to advance in time of war when we 
prod them in the rear. 

ACT II 

Scene 1 

(Eugene's studio in mansion of Constance. Eugene 
discovered at easel, painting.) 

Eugene: Only a few months more and I will have 
passed my examination and then home to my par- 
ents, to Eva— dear little Eva and to the fond recol- 
lections of my youth. How strangely my heart is 
divided between the recollections of my modest Ger- 
man home and the distractions of this gay Paris 
which has become my foster mother and the beauti- 
ful Versailles. Will I ever be satisfied in staid Metz? 
Will I be able to settle down to civil life after the 
glitter of my military schooling? Who knows? 
(Enter Constance.) 

Constance: Why, Eugene !— still in your workday 
clothes and painting, always painting. Even during 
your vacation. 

Eugene: I love painting. It will be my future occu- 
pation. 

Constance {excited) : There you go again. I promised 
myself a great military career for you. I want to 



34 

see you covered with gold, a sabre in your hand, 
mounted on a beautiful Arab horse, leading a brave 
regiment, but you will stick to common commercial 
pursuits. 

Eugene: Dear aunt, art is not common, painting is not 
commercial. I entered the military school because 
you insisted. I did my full duty, as you well know. 
I am at the head of the class, but what is a soldier's 
life in peace? A waste of time, energy and oppor- 
tunity. He does not produce. At his best or his 
worst he can only destroy. Art is elevating, mili- 
tancy is debasing. No, my dearest, you cannot make 
a military man of me; it is not in me. 

Constance : Ah, Eugene, you will return to your cold 
Germany, forget dear Paris, hate my France, and 
cease to love me. {She hides her head on his 
shoulder.) 

Eugene {placing an arm around her waist) : Never, dear 
heart. To your kindness and care I owe the best 
years of my life. Whatever my future life may be, 
wherever I may roam, you will have a supreme place 
in my heart. There I have erected a shrine devoted 
to you, only to you, which no other memory will ever 
be permitted to enter {kisses her hand). 

Constance: I know, dear child. For whatever I may 
have done for you, your love has compensated me a 
thousandfold. {Looking around.) You expected 
some friends to-night. A little celebration. I have 
taken the liberty of inviting a friend, Captain Hoche. 
You have no objection? 

Eugene {bowing) : Madam, your friends are mine, be- 



35 



sides I have a bowing acquaintance with Captain 
Hoche and he appears to be a splendid fellow. 

Constance:: Why, look at your room. Such disorder. 
Nothing prepared and our guests may arrive any 
minute. Now go upstairs and dress in uniform (as 
he makes a negative sign) to please me, Eugene. I 
know you like your comfort, but I love to see you in 
regimentals. (Exit Eugene. She follows him to 
stairway and shouts:) Your best uniform, Eugene, 
do you hear? (Looks around furtively and rushes 
to telephone.) Central, central, the War Depart- 
ment. Quick! (Listening.) You dare not connect 
me with the War Department? You must! Call 
up General Jourdan and tell him Constance and 
Fealty calls. He will respond. (Listening.) Is 
this you, General? Oh, his secretary. Please tell 
General Jourdan that Constance and Fealty wants to 
speak to him. (Listening.) Yes, this is Constance. 
Has war been declared? (Listening.) Yes, not yet 
public. You know my desires about Eugene. Is the 
coup prepared ? I fear his stubborn Germanism and 
love for the Stamm family. It will be hard to per- 
suade him. What? (Listening.) None could re- 
sist my persuasion? Thank you, but this is no time 
for compliments, however gallant. Will Hoche be 
on hand? (Listening.) Well, let us hope for the 
best. We must and will save that dear soul for 
France. (Drops telephone, rings bell.) 
(Enter Jean.) 

Jean : Madam has called ? 

Constance: Now, Jean, this room must be made pre- 
sentable. Company will arrive presently. (They 



36 



arrange things.) Bring in ice, claret, brandy, and 
don't forget cigars and cigarettes; also cards and 
chips and, Jean, remove these reminders of peace 
(pointing to easel and painting materials). 
(Jean has brought in articles, disposed of them, 
removed the easel, etc., and re-enters, announcing:) 
Jean : Captain Hoche. 

Constancy (meeting Hoche and offering her hand, which 
he kisses) : Good evening, dear friend. 

Hoche : I lay myself at your feet. 

Constance: Perhaps to be stepped on, how imprudent. 

Hoche : To be stepped on by you would be supreme 
pleasure. The tread of an angel. 

Constance : How charmant, Captain ; but let us waive 
gallantry and attend to business. Did the General 
inform you? 

Hoche : He assured me that everything is prepared. 

Constance: So war has been declared? 

Hoche : It was inevitable. 

Constance (sighing) : How sad. 

Hoche : But we rejoice, Madam. 

Constance : You impetuous young officers, you rejoice in 
capturing our hearts in peace and breaking them in 
war. 

(Enter Jean.) 

Jean : Monsieur de la Rue. 

(Enter de la Rue.) 

Constance : Good evening, de la Rue. You are in time. 



37 



DE la Rue {kisses her hand) : Madam, time has wings 
of lead when I expect to meet you. 

Constance (laughing) : Listen to the little flatterer. I 
declare, there are no children in these decadent days. 
(To Roche) Captain, permit me to introduce to you 
Mr. de la Rue, Eugene's classmate and a future 
Marshal of France. 
(Other young men are announced, arrive, and are 

introduced. The conversation becomes general. 

Eventually Constance approaches stairs and calls 

up.) 

Constance: Eugene, where are you, your friends have 
congregated. 

(Eugene appears in the full uniform of a military 
student and is greeted by the company.) 

Constance (introducing Eugene to Roche) : Captain, 
you have met my nephew. You two soldiers of 
France will like each other. (To Eugene) The Cap- 
tain graduated of St. Cyr and you will be able to 
exchange experiences. (To company) And now, 
young gentlemen, since your host has arrived, it is 
time for me to retire. An old woman does not fit 
into the company of gallant youngsters who may 
desire to regale each other with the recital of their 
female conquests. So, good-night, much enjoyment, 
and au revoir. (Exit.) 

(The company disposes itself around the table, 
refreshments and cigars are served and desultory 
conversation ensues.) 

Eugene: Who will join a game of baccarat? 



38 



Ensemble): I, Good for you, etc. 

( The table is cleared, chips distributed, cards dealt, 
and the game proceeds for a short time, while zuine, 
champagne and liqueurs are indulged in.) 

DE l,a Rue {laying down his cards) : Boys, I do not know 
what is the matter with me. I do not feel like play- 
ing cards. There is an oppressive feeling of some 
terrible calamity. 

A Guest : It is warm and oppressive. There is a portend 
of something serious in the air. 

Eugene: Isn't it strange, I have the same feeling. It 
is as if we were all doomed to die. 

Hoche: Nonsense. Don't give vent to such stupid no- 
tions. Here, drink and be merry, even if to-mor- 
row you must die. {He motions to Jean to fill 
the glasses. Jean exit.) Here is to a merry life 
to-day and a glorious death — whenever it may be. 

{They clink glasses. Enter Jean.) 

Jean {excited, handing Eugene a letter) : A soldier 
brought it. 

Eugene {examining envelope) : From the War Depart- 
ment, addressed to me. That is strange. {Opens 
and glances at letter and jumps up, surprised. 
Reads:) " In consideration of the exemplary conduct 
and high standing of Eugene Stamm, he is relieved 
from final examination and has been appointed first 
lieutenant in the Twentieth Regiment of Chasseurs." 

{All congregate around Eugene and shake his 
hand, congratulating him.) 



39 



DE la Rue): You lucky dog, and I will have to sweat 
another six months before I can even sniff at a 
second lieutenancy. 

Hoche: Did you say the Twentieth Regiment? Why, 
my dear boy, how strange. That's my regiment. 
(Embracing him.) Brother in arms, we will fight 
side by side 

Eugene; (dazed) : Why should I be appointed? I am 
not a soldier at heart. And, listen, I am to report 
at the war department to-morrow to be assigned to 
service. That can only mean 

Jean (entering, excited): War, gentlemen! War has 
been declared. The army is mobilizing. The re- 
serves are called in. They are marching to Berlin. 
I am off to my regiment ! 
(All, in great turmoil, make hasty exit, except 

Hoche, who places his arm affectionately around 

Eugene's neck.) 

Hoche : Brother, do not fail us. I expect to meet you 
at the Barracks to-morrow. Courage, my boy. I 
know you are a man of peace, but those make the 
best soldiers when forced to fight. (Smiling.) I 
see the time near when you will be a hero thirsting 
for blood and glory. Good-night, my boy. (Exit.) 

Eugene (walking up and down, reflective) : So the un- 
expected has happened. When I so gleefully joined 
the military academy, urged by my dear foster- 
mother, attracted by military glitter, who could have 
foreseen that I should ever be called upon to go to 
war — a war against my native country, war without 
rhyme or reason? Of course, my sympathies are 



40 

with the French. German by the accident of birth, 
I owe that country no gratitude, and yet my father 
and Eva — poor dear Eva. It will break their hearts. 
I cannot — I will not! I must resign. (Proceeds 
to writing desk, but perceives Constance, who has 
silently entered.) Aunt Constance, are you still 
awake? 

Constance: Yes, my boy. I could not sleep while I 
knew you to be in trouble. 

Eugene : Do you know ? 

Constance : I know all. I could not help listening. 

Eugene : I cannot go to war. I will resign. 

Constance (hiding her face in her hands): Coward! 
And this is the child that I fostered and reared. 

Eugene (proceeds toward her, uncovers her face) : 
Dearest, you do not believe that I am afraid of 
death ? 

Constance (embracing him) : No, no, my Eugene. I 
know you are brave. Forgive your foolish aunt. I 
know your dilemma. I feel your mental agony. 

Eugene: I am a born German. 

Constance: Your heart is French. 

Eugene: My home, my family 

Constance: Your home is here and war knows no 
family. See, Eugene, Germany may be your place 
of birth, but France has educated you; its soil has 
• nourished you ; its schools have taught you ; its gov- 
ernment has honored you. I am willing to sacrifice 
you, the dearest treasure on earth, for France — my 
country. 



41 



{The strains of the Marsaillaise are heard in the 
distance. Constance hurries to window.) 

Constance:: Listen to the strains of liberty; they lure 
you to action. 

Eugene : Siren ! 

Constance: A regiment approaches. See the flags of 
France {drawing him to window). It is the Twen- 
tieth Chasseurs — your regiment. The Colonel salutes, 
the banners are waving to us. There is your friend, 
Captain Hoche — he beckons. {She takes a szuord; 
presses it into his hand.) Here is your sword, 
Eugene. Wield it for the honor of France and love 
of me. 

Eugene: {waving sword) : I will, Constance dear, for 
you! 

Constance {embracing him) : I knew it, my boy, my 
dear boy ! 

{As the scene changes the strains of the Mar- 
saillaise continue in the distance.) 

Scene 2 

{Sitting room of Captain Stamm. Enter Captain 
Stamm, somewhat exhilarated, followed by Franz.) 

Captain: So it's war, Franz. Do you hear?— war ! 

Franz : Yes, sir. 

Captain : You don't seem to be pleased? 

Franz : I am not. 

Captain : What's the matter with you? 



42 

Franz: War is either an unpleasant necessity or a sav- 
age luxury. I do not need it and do not enjoy it. 

Captain : Be this as it may, you will have to serve. 

Franz : I know, Captain, and I intend to do my full 
duty, whether I like the job or not. 

Captain : You belong to the reserve? 

Franz: Twelfth Regiment Uhlans. 

Captain : Have you been called to the colors yet? 

Franz : Not yet, but I expect the notice every day. 

Captain : Well, my regiment is under marching order. 
Is my knapsack packed? 

Franz: Everything ready. 

Captain : I am glad we are going into action at last. I 
was dying here of the dry rot of inactivity (draws 
sword). The sword is clean and sharp, but (rub- 
bing his arm) the arm is rather rusty. (He makes 
cuts and stabs with the sword.) This will do for a 
Frenchman or two. How about my revolvers? 

Franz: Ready and loaded. Each fit to dispose of five 
lives. 

Captain : Very good. Take my luggage to the Bar- 
racks. Where is my wife? 

Franz : Downstairs in the kitchen. She insisted upon 
preparing a last meal, before your departure, with 
her own hands. It is to be served in the dining 
room. 

Captain : I cannot wait. I have only just breakfasted. 
These women are so fussy. 



43 



Franz (sarcastic) : About a little matter like a war. 
(Aside) And these men are so callous about a little 
matter like a woman's heart. (Exit.) 

Captain (opening door, calls) : Triene, Triene, where 
are you ? 

Mrs. Stamm (outside) : I am coming. (Enters with 
tear-stained cheeks, handkerchief to eyes. Runs to 
Capt. Stamm, embraces and kisses him.) And must 
you go, and I may never see you again? 

Captain : Oh, come, now, no tears. This is not the 
conduct of a soldier's wife. 

Mrs. Stamm : I know. I blame myself. My head says 
to rejoice that my husband is going to harvest 
laurels on the field of battle, but the heart cannot be 
argued with, and trembles and doubts and fears. 
Oh, Albert, you are sure you will return to me? 

Captain : Foolish girl ! Of course I will. War is my 
business. For more than thirty years have I been 
waiting for an opportunity to distinguish myself. 
To throw off the lethargy of garrison life. To ob- 
tain advancement. And when my fondest hopes are 
being fulfilled would you begrudge me the chance? 

Mrs. Stamm : I know I should not. 

Captain : When you married me did you not anticipate 
this very hour? 

Mrs. Stamm : Too true. I did dread this very hour. 
For years after our marriage I would dream of war 
and slaughter. I saw the battlefield strewn with the 
dead, glassy eyes staring toward the moon, with 
shattered limbs and gaping wounds ; and I heard the 



44 



sound of funeral dirges around and the moans of 
the dying and the cry of despair of women all dressed 
in black, who were roaming about that graveyard, 
looking for their beloved dead — and there, right on 
top of that writhing heap of maimed humanity, I 
saw the form of my husband, his breast torn open 
by a shell and his life slowly ebbing away. 

Captain (moved) : Don't give way, dearest. You un- 
nerve me. 

Mrs. Stamm : And I awoke with a scream and hurried 
to your room to see whether you were there, and I 
saw you with your eyes shut in the pale light of the 
moon, as if you were dead, and I felt your dear 
face and when I felt you stir I sank down by your 
bed with tears streaming down my face, and sent up 
a prayer of thanks that you were still spared to me. 

Captain (wiping his eyes) : Poor Triene, and I knew 
nothing at all about this. 

Mrs. Stamm : A soldier's wife ! And this occurred night 
after night. But as the years passed on and you 
stayed by my side, and day passed after day un- 
eventfully and peacefully, I was transported into a 
fool's paradise. I thought your soldiering was 
merely play. I looked upon your uniform as a mere 
ornament and considered your sword a toy. And 
now, tell me, do I dream? Are you really going 
from me into that place of carnage? Will you be 
one of those shattered remains of humanity? (Hys- 
terically:) Albert, Albert, wake me ! (Sinks into his 
arms, moaning.) 

Captain : Dear, have courage. I will return. 



45 

Mrs. Stamm : Eugene, my God, Eugene! 

Captain : Yes, I almost forgot about him. Of course 
he will have to serve. 

Mrs. Stamm : In the German army? Oh, God, how you 
punish me for my transgressions. 

Captain (surprised) : I don't understand you, Triene. 
Of course he will serve in our Army. He is a Ger- 
man and my son. He will do his duty and I expect 
great things from him. I know how you natives of 
Lorraine feel about this war, but after all you are 
the wife of a German soldier and the mother of a 
native German. 

Mrs. Stamm (aside) : The mother of a German. 

Captain : Of course this will temporarily interfere with 
his artistic career. You are to be sympathized with 
for having both a husband and a son exposed to the 
perils of war, but it is inevitable and other women 
have to bear similar afflictions. 

Mrs. Stamm: You are right; it is an unavoidable mis- 
fortune. 

Captain : I will telegraph him to-day. Calm yourself. 
I hear Eva. The poor child must not be troubled. 

(Enter Bva, followed by Franz.) 

Eva: Papa, dear, are you really going to war? How 
jolly! 

Captain : I am glad to have your sympathetic support, 
at all events. 

Eva : And you will come back a General on a big black 
horse, your breast covered with decorations. 



46 

Franz (aside): Foolish child! he may return on a 
stretcher, his body covered with wounds ! 

Captain (pointing at Mrs. Stamm and Franz) : These 
black ravens do their best to discourage me. 

Eva (to Franz) : What, Franz! I am surprised. How 
dare you interfere with my father's business, you 
old woman? 

Franz : I am not so very old. 

Eva (to Captain Stamm) : Never mind, Father. I stand 
by you. I am a true patriot and in favor of this 
war. We must crush the Frenchmen and the French 
women. Particularly the French women. How I 
hate them! 

Mrs. Stamm : Eva, how can you be so cruel? 

Eva : I am German, heart and soul, Mother. I wished I 
was a boy, that I could shoulder a gun and fight at 
father's side. 

Captain : Eva, come to my arms ! You are a true daugh- 
ter of mine and of your Fatherland. I am proud of 
you (embraces her). (To Franz:) Is the machine 
ready? I must be off. 

Mrs. Stamm (agitated) : I prepared dinner for you. 
The dishes you like. Who knows when we will dine 
together again ? 

T£va (sniffing) : Sauerbraten und Kartoffel Kloesse! I 
can smell it. It makes me feel hungry. 

Captain : I am sorry. I have no time. We'll feast when 
I return. 

Franz (aside) : If you return. 



47 



Captain (moved, embracing wife and Bva) : Good-bye, 
my dears. I fight for my God, my country and my 
Kaiser ! 

Eva: Come back a hero and a conqueror. My heart 
goes with you. 

Mrs. Stamm (sinking on her knees) : Good God prosper 
the just cause, preserve my dear husband, and do 
not let the innocents suffer for my guilt. 



ACT III 

SCENK 1 

(The same room.) 

Mrs. Stamm (dejected and in tears) : Poor dear hus- 
band, poor Eugene! Who could forsee this terrible 
war? 

(Bva and Bella enter in deep discussion. Mrs. 
Stamm attempts to hide her tears.) 

Eva: Mama, do you know that Bella is going to leave 
us? 

Mrs. Stamm : I am so sorry. Bella, dear, I have learned 
to love you like a daughter, but, of course 

Bella (interrupting) : My parents think that Metz is so 
near the frontier that it is unsafe for me to stay, 
and have ordered me home. And I felt so much at 
home among you, but I must obey. Besides, I can't 
stand the noise of cannons. I get so frightened at 
thunder and lightning. 



48 



Mrs. Stamm : I understand and fully approve the cau- 
tion of your parents. Of course we inhabitants of 
a garrison city feel different. When do you expect 
to leave? 

Bella : Oh, within a day or two. I hope the French- 
men will not take the town before that. 

Mrs. Stamm (smiling) : Child, be perfectly assured that 
nothing will hurt you. Metz is almost impregnable, 
and the French would have a hard time in investing 
the city. Girls, I will let you spend your last days 
in each other's company. It may be a long time 
before you meet again. (Exit.) 

Eva: Did you see it? Did you notice the tears which 
she attempted to hide? 

Bella: Of course your mother feels bad on account of 
your father's absence. 

Eva: Don't you believe it. Mama is a soldier's wife 
and as courageous as any woman I ever met. But 
during the last few days she has been entirely 
changed. Nothing but tears and sighs. I tell you it 
is not because of father, but Eugene. 

Bella : You surprise me. 

Eva : Yes, there is an awful skeleton in our family closet 
and I am going to dig it out. 

Bella : How interesting ! But don't expose your family 

secrets to a stranger. 
Eva: You are not a stranger. You are more like a 

sister. I have no secrets from you. 
Bella : Well, if it relieves you, tell me your troubles. I 

may be able to help you out. 



49 



Eva : You see, Eugene is a great artist. Years ago 
Mama insisted that it would be necessary for him 
to attend school in Paris, and our Aunt Constance 
was willing to take care of him. He went to Paris. 

B^iyivA : I see. 

Eva : No, you don't. Instead of attending to the study 
of art, Eugene was permitted to attend at a military 
school, and since father might have been opposed to 
his imbibing French tactics, that was kept secret 
from him and I am in the secret. 

BEivivA : How dreadful ! Oh, Eva, how could you keep 
a secret and such an interesting one? 

Eva: I did keep it, so as not to get poor Mama into 
trouble. 

B3u,a: I understand. 

Eva: Of course, the fact that Eugene studied military 
tactics is nothing against him. On the contrary, he 
knows more now than all our generals taken in a 
bunch, and we being German patriots, he would be 
only too pleased to hoist the Frenchmen by their own 
petard in using against them the knowledge which 
he acquired at their expense. 

Beij*a: Of course. 

Eva : He would be made a major or a colonel right away, 

and perhaps become a member of the General Staff. 
BeXi,a: Without a possible doubt. Being your brother, 

they should make him a general and confer upon him 

the Iron Cross. 
Eva : That is what I told Mama, but she only shook her 

head and shed a whole ocean of tears. 



50 

Bella : How strange ! 

Eva : Well, there is something very mysterious about the 
matter and Mama is somehow implicated. 

Bella: You don't say? 

Eva : And Aunt Constance is at the bottom of it. 

Bella : Your aunt ? 

Eva: Yes, my aunt, the old coquette. 

Bella : How can you talk so about your poor aunt ? 

Eva : Poor aunt, nothing ! She is tremendously rich. 

Bella : Well, that is nothing against her. 

Eva : You know my aunt is — well — very good looking. 

Bella : You don't envy her good looks. It seems to be 
a family trait. 

Eva : No, no, child. You don't understand these things. 
An old good-looking woman on one hand and a 
poor unprotected boy on the other. 

Bella: Oh, you suspect 

Eva: I do not suspect — I know. She has designs on 
poor brother. 

Bella: How romantic! 

Eva : The romance of the sly cat and the unsophisticated 

mouse. She will swallow the poor mouse. 
Bella : What is to be done about it ? 
Eva : I am going to rescue him. 

Bella : You mean you are going to invade Paris and 
forcibly carry your brother through the French lines 
into Germany? 






51 



Eva: Why no. Eugene is not in Paris. He is quite 
near. 

BsiyiyA : You surprise me. The plot is growing so dense 
I can't see through it. 

Eva : You know Chateau d'Un on the Orne. A beauti- 
ful place — considered one of the show places of 
France. 

BKivivA : I believe I have heard of it. What about it ? 

Eva : Aunt Constance owns it. 

Beu,a: How lovely! But what has your poor brother 
to do with the chateau? 

Eva : He is there. 

Beu,a: Really, you don't say! But how do you know? 

Eva : I wheedled it out of Mama. She is entirely under 
the dominion of her sister. But I am as sly as they 
are. Oh, I am a born diplomat. 

Bsixa: I see that you are, and you have undertaken a 
serious mission. Let me hear the particulars. 

Eva : You know Aunt Constance was married before. I 
don't know how many times, but she is a female 
Bluebeard. 

BeXIvA: My goodness! 

Eva: In her chateau she has a room which is always 
locked and where she keeps the bodies of her defunct 
husbands. 

Beixa : Eva, you frighten me ! I won't be able to sleep 
to-night. 

Eva : You know the chateau is in France. Why doesn't 



52 



Eugene cross into Germany? Why doesn't he come 
back to his country and his family ? 

Bella: It seems rather remarkable, being so near. 

Eva: I tell you why. She has abducted the poor child 
and keeps him imprisoned in the deepest dungeon of 
her castle until he will consent to marry her. The 
ancient cradle snatcher ! 

Bella : That seems quite plausible, Eva. I am surprised 
at your perspicuity. 

Eva : It is not per — per — the big word you used. It is 
intuition. 

BELLA : Yes, I understand. You and your brother always 
loved each other very dearly. 

Eva: Yes, we did, and I hardly dare to think what will 
become of him after that marriage. 

Bella: Well? 

Eva : He will join the procession of her former husbands 
(sobbing), and his dismembered remains will adorn 
some niche of that accursed room ! 

Bella (crying) : Don't talk that way, you make the 
shivers run up and down my back. 

Eva : But I will balk her nefarious schemes. I will 
rescue Eugene from the net of that French spider. 

Bella : Good ! But how are you going to do it ? 

Eva : Oh, I will find some way. 

Bella: How can you get there? The railroads are 
blocked by the military. No trains are running be- 
yond the frontier. How will you manage? 



53 

Eva: I will get there if I have to crawl on all fours! 
And let me once meet Constance, the charming cat! 
I will make her fur fly ! 

(Enter Franz in uniform of a Sergeant of Uhlans.) 

Eva : Why, Franz, in a uniform ! So you are going to 
fight for your country and I called you an old 
woman ? 

Franz (smiling) : Necessity compelled me to become a 
militant suffragette. I belong to the reserve and 
was called to arms. 

Bella: He looks like General Bourn in the Grand 
Duchess of Gerolstein. (Salutes) I salute you, 
General. (Singing:) "I love the military. I love 
the military." 

Eva : The color of the uniform fits his complexion 
splendidly. 

Bella : It is a fashionable gray. I told you split skirts 
are going out of style. They wear their — ahem! — 
trousers now exposed and unashamed. (They turn 
Franz around.) The waist fits well in the back. 
What corsets do you wear, General ? 

Eva : Don't you think the — ah — lower garment is cut 
rather wide at the top and narrow in the calf s ? 

Bella : That is the latest Parisian style, but I think 
there should be ruffles at the top of the booties. 

Eva: No, Bella, they wear lace exclusively. And look, 
he has spurs. Franz, aren't you afraid that you will 
make the machine balk ? — besides, I consider the use 
of spurs upon an automobile an unnecessarily cruel 
method of propulsion. Don't you, Bella? 



54 



Franz : Ladies, have your fling at me. It won't last 
long. I have come to say my adieus. 

Eva : Franz, are you going to leave so suddenly ? How 
sad ! We hate to lose you. Don't we, Bella ? 

BELLA : Mr. Franz was your exclusive property. I never 
owned him and cannot lose him. 

Eva : When must you go and where are you bound for ? 

Franz : I must report at the general headquarters near 
the border of Luxemburg. I leave this evening. 

Eva : You will have tea with us before you leave. You 
have ceased to be a servitor and are now father's 
comrade, whom we are pleased to honor. 

Franz : A mere sergeant and your father an officer. 

Eva : Franz, don't be stupid. You know we are not 
stuck up and have never considered you as merely 
a servant, but more as a friend. (Archly to Betta:) 
Isn't he our dear friend, Bella? 

Bella: Mr. Franz has always been kind and courteous. 
I shall be only too proud to call him a friend under 
any circumstance and in any condition. 

Franz : Thank you, ladies. My experiences in this house 
and the remembrance of your kindness will be among 
my most precious recollections. May I speak to 
your mama, Miss Eva? 

Eva: I will call her. (Calls:) Mama, Franz is here and 
wants to speak to you. 

Mrs. Stamm (outside) : I am coming. (Enters.) Why, 
Franz, I am pleased to see you in your country's 
uniform. I knew you would not stay behind. 



55 



Franz : I thank Madam for her good opinion of me, 
which I fully appreciate. 

Mrs. Stamm : Of course we hate to lose you. You have 
been considered a member of the family and (break- 
ing down), oh, this terrible war ! How it has broken 
up family and home ties and changed every con- 
dition of life. 

Franz: Dear Madam (kisses her hand), I feel as if I 

were leaving a mother. Our hearts break, but what 

can we do? We are in the throes of a terrible cur- 

. rent and must swim or sink with the flow of the 

tide. 

Mrs. Stamm : When must you leave? 

Franz : Only this evening. I have several hours to spare. 

Mrs. Stamm : You will join us at our evening meal. I 
will see to it that you get off in time. 

Franz: I am sorry to inform you that your automobile 
has been requisitioned for military uses. Here is 
the order (offering paper zvhich Mrs. Stamm waves 
aside.) 

Mrs. Stamm : It needs no official order. Since I am 
willing to sacrifice my husband to the Fatherland, 
it is welcome to anything else that I possess. 

Franz : I thank you in the name of our country. The 
machine is in the garage, loaded with baggage, which 
I am ordered to deliver at headquarters. 

Mrs. Stamm : Very well. Excuse me, I want to attend 
to some household details so that you may not be 
delayed. We will meet later. (Bxit.) 



56 



Eva: So you have taken our automobile, and when we 
want to ride we will have to walk. 

Franz : I am very sorry, but the exigencies of war 

Eva : No matter. Good riddance to the old rattletrap. I 
am only afraid that it will blow up some day and 
hurt some of our officers. I consider it elementar- 
ily an engine of torture in peace and of destruction 
in war, and always dangerous to those who handle it. 

Franz: It is to be used only for the carrying of amu- 
nitions and war material. It is now filled with a 
lot of rubbish for headquarters; if the load were 
valuable it would not be entrusted to one man, 
unarmed and on the road so near to the border. 

Eva : So you are taking it to Luneville on the highway 
along the frontier? 

Franz : Of course. It is the only tolerably decent road, 
but I will be very careful not to cross the border. 
While no French soldiers have been reported in the 
neighborhood, one can never say what French peas- 
ants may do with a German automobile, and I would 
not want them to capture the impedimenta of our 
staff. They might use them roughly, to say nothing 
of my skin, which is of some value — to me. 

Eva {reflectively) : I understand. You know the Cha- 
teau d'Un? 

Franz: The beautiful estate of your aunt? Of course, 
it is right near the highway on French territory. 
We used to drive out there. Your poor aunt ! Her 
property will be badly used by both armies, being so 
near the scene of war. 



57 



Eva: Don't you pity my aunt. She deserves no sym- 
pathy. I wish they would bombard her castle and 
level it with the ground. 

Franz (surprised): Why, Miss Eva! How you talk! 
Of course she is French, but that is no reason why 
you should hate her. 

Eva : Never mind. I have my reasons. You say the 
machine is in the garage, packed and ready to pro- 
ceed? 

Franz: Certainly. All I need to do is to jump on and 
off we go. 

Eva : Very well. I don't want to detain you. You will 
have a lot of things to attend to. Au revoir. 

BELiyA (tearfully) : And I will see you again before you 
go off to be wounded and killed by those terrible 
Frenchmen. 

Franz : Don't take it to heart, Miss Bella. I am all 
right and fully able to take care of myself. I will 
meet you at the supper table. Good-bye for the 
present. (Exit.) 

Eva (clapping her hands) : Oh, Bella, I have it! I'm 
going to see Eugene and help him to escape. 

B£i<ivA : How are you going to do it ? 

Eva : I am going with Franz. 

Bkixa : What, at night ? 

Eva: Oh, it will be glorious moonlight. 

BeXla : On a lonely road with a young man ? 

Eva : Franz is not a man ; he is a soldier. 



58 



Bella : I don't comprehend the distinction. It would be 
absolutely indecent. 

Eva: This is a time of war, which causes a suspension 
of propriety and a moratorium of decency. 

Bella: But Franz won't take you. 

Eva : I know he won't. I am going without his con- 
sent. 

Bella : How will you manage it ? 

Eva: I am going to hide in the automobile! I assume 
it is pretty well filled with rubbish, but I know the 
secret passages of our old machine and will manage 
to squeeze in. 

Bella: Squeeze in with skirts and all? 

Eva: Not a bit. I am going to dress as a boy. There 
are any number of brother's suits upstairs. I have 
tried them on over and over again. They fit me 
nicely. I make the dearest boy you ever saw. 

Bella: I always know you for a tomboy, but I never 
thought you capable of such escapades. 

Eva: Desperate emergencies demand desperate meas- 
ures. I think I can hear my brother call for help 
from the depth of his subterranean dungeon. I will 
not fail him. I count upon it that you will not 
betray me. I am off to prepare. 

Bella (aside) : A moonlight night, a young man on a 
lonely road, a suspension of proprieties. No, you 
won't. (Aloud:) Eva, take me along. 

Eva: What will I do with you, you timid little mouse? 

Bella : Oh, I am strong, if I am little. I can help you 



59 



carry your poor broter if he should be too weak 
to walk or — should resist. 

Eva: You will be jolly company and take up no room. 
I can put you in a suit case and take you along as 
baggage. Come on, we have no time to lose. 

Scene: 2 

(Moonlight night, road in the woods with vista 
of a chateau and river, a stalled automobile, under 
zvhich Franz is discovered making repairs.) 

Franz : This damned old junk heap ! I wish the infernal 
thing would tumble down some mountain and break 
its goldarned legs ! May the devil fly away with it. 
It would make a splendid aeroplane in hell ! 

( The heads of Bva and Bella appear above tonneau 
and they converse in zvhispers.) 

Bella : How shocking ! I declare your Franz can swear. 

Eva: Like a trooper. It shows that he knows his busi- 
ness. 

Franz : Himmel Kreuz donnerzvetter I 

Bella : Such language, and in the presense of ladies ! 

Eva: My dear, let me call your attention to three im- 
portant considerations which you do not seem to 
recognize. First of all, war is the mother of impro- 
priety and the grandmother of indecency; secondly, 
we are not ladies, but young men — regular sports; 
thirdly, since Franz is unaware of our presence it is 
permissible for him to swear and for us to listen. 

Franz: Sacre mon de dieul Mille tonnere! 



60 



Eva : Listen ! Franz, having exhausted all the cuss 
words of his native tongue, has adopted the cussdom 
of the enemy. It speaks well for his ingenuity, but 
reflects upon his patriotism. He should confine him- 
self to the consumption of home products. 

Franz : I can't get that wretched screw tight. Car- 
ramba! 

Eva : Do you hear ? He is going through the dictionary 
of all countries, and is bound to make a splendid 
record as a soldier. He will soon have exhausted 
the cusswords of all languages, and I expect him to 
produce something entirely new. I like originality. 

BELLA : I am surprised that you take it so calmly. I am 
disappointed in Franz. 

Eva: Do you know, there is nothing so soothing as a 
string of good swear words? 

Bella: Stop, Naughty! 

Eva: You see, it is the finishing touch of a man. Just 
like drink and tobacco. We don't love the scent, but 
a man seems incomplete without his beer and pipe. 
We have become so accustomed to these things in 
him that their absence makes him appear effeminate. 

Franz : If the captain had a grain of common sense he 
would have thrown this old junk on the ash heap 
long ago. 

Bella: He is speaking of your father. Don't you feel 
offended ? 

Eva : Not a bit. Poor Pa is merely a captain. He 

studied his strategy and his articles of war and 



61 



rules of conduct. He is not bound to think for him- 
self, but merely to execute the commands of his 
superiors. He does not need to think. All the intel- 
ligence is centered in the General Staff and the 
superior officers. The others are machines. My 
poor father will become intelligent when he gets to 
be a general. You know the proverb, Whom God 
grants an office to him he gives intelligence to fill it. 

Bella: Listen! What is the noise? 

Eva : Good Lord ! soldiers are coming. It must be the 
French army. Let us hide. (They hide in tonne au.) 

Franz (coming from under auto) : I hear the approach 
of soldiers. It must be a patrol of our own men. 
(Aloud:) Who goes? 

Voice Outside Grand Rounds : Halt, who is there ? 

(Enter Captain Stamm and Orderly. Franz stands 
at salute.) 

Capt. Stamm : What have we here? 

Franz : Sergeant, Reserve Uhlans. 

Captain: Bound where? 

Franz : Division staff at Luneville. 

Captain : With an automobile? 

Franz : Requisitioned. Filled with supplies. 

Captain : Orderly, bring a lantern so that we can inspect 
the machine. 

(Orderly salutes and produces a lantern.) 

Captain (looks at Franz) : Why, Franz, is that you 
and ready for action? 



62 



Franz : Always ready. 

Captain : And a sergeant. You must have done well to 
obtain that grade. 

Franz : I did my duty once, sir, and I am willing to do 
it again. 

Captain : Good, my boy; you will get along in the army. 
{Inspects automobile.) Isn't that my machine? 

Franz : Yes, sir. Requisitioned by the General Staff. 

Captain (aside) : There you have it. The generals will 
ride around in my machine while I am compelled to 
carry my corporation in the sweat of my brow. 
Even war is not what it is cracked up to be. 
(Aloud) : What have you in the automobile, ser- 
geant ? 

Franz : Merely some baggage for the officers of the staff 
at Luneville, which I am ordered to deliver, sir. 

Captain : That reminds me that we that we have some 
mail for distribution at headquarters. Have you 
room in the machine to carry it? 

Franz: Plenty, sir. 

Captain : Orderly, just put the mail bag into the ma- 
chine. It will relieve us of unnecessary luggage. 

(Orderly and soldier carry heavy mailbag, which 
they throw into the automobile.) 
Eva (from the automobile) : Ouch ! 
Orderly (surprised) : What is that? 
Captain : A spy. Orderly, search the tonneau. 

(Orderly is about to search when Eva appears, 
pushes him from steps and climbs out.) 



63 



Eva: You brute, you hurt me! (Rubs her head.) 

Captain: Why, who is this? Quick, the light! (Takes 
lantern and looks at Eva.) Eva, what are you 
doing here and in disguise ? 

Eva (calmly) : It was a beautiful moonlight night and 
I thought I would take a ride to Luneville to inspect 
the General's headquarters. 

Captain: You did, you naughty girl? Well, you'll go 
right back, and under proper chaperonage! (Calls 
out:) First file front! (Two soldiers march up.) 
Take him — her — it to the rear to be handed into the 
custody of a sensible and strong-fisted woman at the 
first farmhouse you strike ; have her kept there until 
my return. (To Bva:) As for you, young man, you 
will be court-martialed and shot at sunrise. 

Eva (pretending to faint, falls into the arms of Franz) : 
Ach, Franz ! 

Captain (pulls her away) : None of this, you shameless 
girl ! Come, kiss me and then off you go. 

(Bva kisses Captain Stamm, then exit zvith soldiers.) 

Captain (approaches Franz zvith clenched fists as if to 
strike) : You will elope with my little girl! 

Orderly : Captain, Rule 13. 

Captain : I forgot. An officer is not permitted to strike 
an inferior, but you miserable scoun 

Orderly (interrupting) : Rule 50. 

Captain : Damn the rules ! I am not even allowed to 
abuse a fellow who coolly walks off with my daugh- 
ter! 



64 



Franz : Captain, I assure you 

Captain : Silence, sir. When you are addressed by your 
superiors you must keep still. (Aside:) I can't 
even have him court-martialed for eloping with my 
Eva. There is nothing against it in the articles 
of war. (Calmer to Franz:) The country needs 
every available man, and I must let this pass for the 
present, but mind, after the war — I will break your 
neck, if you have any left ! Now get into your rot- 
ten automobile and proceed according to orders. 
(To his men:) Company attention, about face, for- 
ward, march! (Exit with company.) 

(Franz is about to crank the auto when Bella calls 
from tonneau.) 

Bella: Oh, sergeant! 

Franz (astonished): Another! This must be a peri- 
patetic ladies seminary. (As Bella dismounts:) 
How many of you are there ? 

Bella: Mr. Franz! 

Franz: What! Miss Bella in that rig? I am shocked! 

Bella: So you elope with the daughter of your em- 
ployer ? 

Franz : But 

Bella : Silence, sir ! When you talk to your betters you 
must shut up. 

Franz (salutes) : Yes, sir. 

Bella : And embrace her in public. Now don't deny it. 
I saw it through a crack in the cover. You seemed 
to enjoy it, too. Oh, Franz, how could you? 



65 



Franz : Miss Bella, you know better. 

BeXi,a : I suspect you soldiers. You are so forward, 
especially a Uhlan and a chauffeur. 

Franz : What shall I do with you, dear child of misfor- 
tune? 

BeXla: Poor me, all alone with a fierce Uhlan in this 
wilderness. 

Franz : Well, I am not a bear and won't eat you. But 
if you prefer to walk back, the road is splendid and 
it is only twenty-five miles. 

BELi/A : You would not leave me here alone ? 

Franz: But what can I do? I must proceed to head- 
quarters, and a young lady alone with a young man 
at night The proprieties, Miss. 

Beixa : Eva says that in time of war it is quite the thing 
to be improper. It is even permissible to swear in 
the company of ladies. 

Franz : Oh, you heard me ? It was a great relief, I 
assure you. But I beg a thousand pardons. 

BeXi,a: Mr. Franz, I am not a lady, I am a boy; you 
may consider me your little brother. 

Franz : Will that entitle me to a share of your brotherly 
love? 

BeXi,a : Under present circumstances I can only promise 
you the sympathy of a comrade. 

Franz: Little flirt! Well, jump on. 



66 

Scene 3 

(Sleeping room in Chateau d J Un. Enter squad 
of soldiers under the command of a corporal, travel- 
stained. They relieve themselves of impedimenta, 
examine the furniture and make themselves com- 
fortable. ) 

Corporal (on rocking chair, lighting pipe) : This is 
what I call solid comfort. I haven't sat in a chair 
like this since I left my hut near the coal mines. 
(All laugh.) 

Soldier : This bed reminds me of the farm, except that 
a crown was carved at the head of our bedstead. 

Corporal: There is no place like it and the food is 
great. There is only one fault to be found. 

Soldier: Well? 

Corporal : At our supper to-night the wine and liqueurs 
were cut out by order of the lieutenant, and I am 
used to have a bottle of champagne at my meals in 
the colliery. I can't get along without it. 

Soldier (rings bell) : Waiter, a bottle of wine for the 
corporal. Let it be dry and cold. Make it two, 
while you are about it. Gentlemen, will you join 
us? 

(Enter Eugene in uniform of First Lieutenant of 
Chasseurs all arise and stand at salute.) 

Eugene : Ah, my children, I see you have made your- 
selves comfortable. Resume your seats, you are 
tired and need a rest. In the name of my aunt I 
bid you welcome to her domain. She has instructed 



67 



me to supply you with all your needs to the extent 
of its capacity. Nothing is too good for the army 
of France. 

Corporal: I propose three cheers for the Lieutenant 
and his aunt. {They cheer.) 

Eugene: Thank you, my boys. In the words of De- 
moulins during the Revolution, "Let us rejoice to- 
day, because to-morrow we will be dead." 

Corporal: We rejoice to die for our country. 

All : We do. 

Eugene : I know this is not mere talk. You mean what 
you say. I must make the rounds of my company 
and see that every one is comfortable. You will 
have to rest on your arms, because the Germans are 
near and we may expect a brush any hour. Au 
revoir. 

All: Au revoir, Lieutenant. {Exit Eugene.) 

Corporal: Isn't he splendid? So young and such a 
thorough soldier. 

Soldier : He is an honor to the regiment. 

{They smoke, play cards and otherwise entertain 
themselves. ) 

Voice Outside: Corporal of the Guard! 

Corporal: Attention! To arms! 

{All rise hurriedly, take muskets and stand at 
attention. Enter Franz, disheveled and bound, 
prodded by the bayonet of a soldier. After him fol- 
lows Bella timidly.) 



68 



Corporal: What have we here? A German soldier? 

Soldier: He is an Uhlan. We found him on an auto- 
mobile across the border. 

Corporal: An Uhlan! Let me look at him. Why, I 
thought they had horns, and a tail and a cloven foot. 
I am disappointed. He looks quite ordinary. 

Soldier: He may look ordinary, but he can fight like a 
tiger. Although he was unarmed, we had to knock 
him senseless and then tie him, because he would 
not surrender. If they can fight like that on foot 
and without arms, what will they do when on horse- 
back in full armor. 

Corporal : And who is the other, a spy ? 

Soldier: I suppose so. He is rather young. 

Corporal: We will soon find out. Search him. 

(Bella shrinks behind Franz, zvho makes strenu- 
ous efforts to protect her, but is restrained by the 
others.) 

Bella: Please, please, Mr. Officer, don't search me. I 
am so ticklish around my neck! 

{Enter Eugene.) 

Eugene: Corporal, what is all this noise about and 
whom have we here? 

Corporal: Spies, Lieutenant. 

Eugene: Nonsense, one of them is in uniform. Where 
did you find them? 

Soldier: On the other side of the border. They were 
in an automobile. 









69 



Eugene: : What became of it? 

Soldier : It blew up. 

Eugene {laughing) : You had a lucky escape. Some of 
these machines are more dangerous than mines. The 
Uhlan is a prisoner of war and entitled to be treated 
with every consideration. Untie him. {To Franz:) 
In the name of France permit me to apologize for 
the indignity inflicted upon you and {smiling) to 
welcome you on French soil, although the visit was 
unexpected. My men mean well, but at times they 
are rough. Who is the boy? 

Franz {stammering) : My — ah — my little brother. 

Eugene : He is a civilian, and having been taken on 
German territory, he cannot be considered either a 
spy or a prisoner of war. The general will deter- 
mine his status to-morrow. In the meantime accept 
my hospitality. {He puts his arm around Bella's 
neck.) Don't be afraid, little one. We won't hurt 
you. {Bella shrinks back. Eugene looks at her 
sharply. To Franz:) Sergeant, did you say this 
was your little brother? 

Beixa: Of course I am. We ought to know our family 
relations. 

Eugene : And where were you taking him to, Sergeant ? 

Franz : To headquarters at Luneville. 

Eugene : Oh, I didn't know that your generals kept little 
brothers at headquarters during the war. 

Franz {about to assault Eugene) : What do you mean 
to insinuate, Lieutenant? 



70 



Eugene : Friend, don't be foolish. You are in our power 
and any foolhardiness may lead to severe measures, 
for which I would be sorry. You have no right to 
complain of suspicions which are brought about by 
your own conduct. I have no desire, however, to in- 
sult a captive or to disturb the incognito of the young 
gentleman. Achille, bring a chair. The child looks 
worn out. (Conducts Bella to chair and bozvs.) 

Franz : Lieutenant, I beg your pardon and thank you 
for your consideration. 

Eugene : Do not mention it. There is nothing personal 
against you. I rather like you, and even enemies 
may be courteous when they murder each other. 

Franz : I feel the same way, and wish this feeling were 
more general and that the murder were entirely 
eliminated. 

Eugene: I am sorry that I have no other accommoda- 
tions for you and your brother except this room, 
which I will have vacated for your use. I will have 
refreshments sent up to you, which the young gentle- 
man seems to require badly. (To corporal:) Cor- 
poral, let your men repair to the large ballroom. 

Corporal (to squad) : Resume arms, fall in. Attention. 
Forward, march ! (Exit zvith squad.) 

Eugene (bowing to Bella) : Gentlemen, let me wish 
you good appetite and an undisturbed rest. (Exit.) 

Bella: Isn't he just lovely? 
Franz : He is a charging fellow. 

Bella : And a Frenchman. Why, he deserves to be a 
German. 



71 



Franz : Frenchmen are not so bad even in times of war. 

(A soldier brings a tray of edibles and wine. 
Franz and Bella eat and drink.) 

Bella: Doesn't it taste good? I was so hungry. 

Franz : And to think that we two sit here in a cosy room 
at the same table just like 

Bella {interrupting) : Two brothers. 

Franz : That is just what I was going to remark. 

Bella (stretching) : I feel so tired. 

Franz : There is a beautiful bed for you. 

Bella: And you? 

Franz : I will have to look for some other place. There 
will be room outside with the Frenchmen. (He 
zvalks tozvard door.) 

Bella: Franz, you are not going to leave me alone in 
the hands of the enemy? 

Franz : I can't stay in this room with you — the proprie- 
ties. 

Bella : There is a moratorium of propriety. Oh, Franz, 
will you please look at this picture and tell me what 
it represents (Points to a picture on the wall.) 

( While Franz examines picture she removes shoes 
and coat, draws a blanket around her and falls asleep 
on bed.) 

Franz : The picture (He turns around and looks 

at her.) War is hell! (He wraps a tablecloth 
around him and sits in a chair, placing his feet on 
another chair, extinguishes the light and falls asleep.) 



72 



(The stage is darkened during five minutes, while 
military music intermingles German and French airs, 
follozved by distant roar of cannon and musketry 
discharges. The stage gradually turns to dawn, dis- 
closing Bella and Franz still asleep. The rattle of 
musketry awakes them.) 

Bella : Franz, Franz, dear, save me ! 

Franz (still asleep) : Bella, sweetheart, I come. (He 
awakens, rubs his eyes and jumps up.) Miss Bella, 
are you here ? Oh, I am so glad ! I dreamed — 
never mind — it was horrible, but you are safe. 

Bella (snuggles up to him and takes his hand) : They 
are shooting. 

Franz : Impossible. I heard nothing. (Shots are 
heard.) 

Franz : That is musketry. It sounds like a battle. I 
will see. (He approaches window.) 

Bella (frightened) : Don't go there. You might be hit. 

Franz: Why, little timid, I am a soldier and must get 
used to such things. (Looks out.) I see a company 
of Germans deploying from the Moselle. They are 
coming nearer. There must have been quite some 
fighting during the night, and I slept through it. 

Bella: Oh, what will we do here, right in the midst of 
a battle? 

Franz: Don't be afraid. They have no cannons. The 
walls are thick, and if you hide in that corner you 
will be safe from stray bullets. I will see what is 
doing and skirmish for breakfast. 



I 






73 



Bella (throws her arms around him) : Franz, don't 
leave me ! 

Franz : I will certainly not leave while under such re- 
straint. Poor dear! 

(Noise is heard outside, the door is opened, and 
French soldiers enter, followed by Eugene with ban- 
daged head.) 

Eugene : This is our last stand. Barricade the door and 
windows. (The door and windows are barricaded.) 
We will delay them in any event. Help may arrive. 
(To Bella and Franz:) Ah, my friends, I had for- 
gotten you. Excuse the inhospitality, but we are 
hard pressed. This is no place for you. There is a 
passageway to the cellar. You are safe down there. 
Right through that door. 

Franz : I am a soldier and won't hide in the cellar. 

Eugene : Man, don't be stubborn. You are still my 
prisoner. You cannot do anything here to aid us, 
and we cannot afford to have a German in our rear. 
Besides, you must take care of your brother. (Opens 
door, bowing to Bella.) Will you precede? (Shoves 
Franz gently after her.) Good-bye, my friend. We 
may not meet again. 

A Voice Outside: Surrender! 

Eugene: The Twentieth Chasseurs dies, but it does not 
surrender ! Fire ! 

(After the exchange of shots the door is broken 
down and Captain Stamm enters at the head of his 
company. Bugene is about to shoot, but drops his 
revolver and they stare at each other.) 



74 

Eugene: Father! 

Captain: Eugene, my son, in a French uniform! 

Eugene : I do not yield to superior force, but surrender 
to my father. (To his men:) Ground arms! (They 
drop their guns.) 

Captain: Traitor, die! (He is about to run Bugene 
through with his szuord when Orderly arrests his 
arm.) 

Orderly : For God's sake, Captain, you can't kill an 
unarmed enemy after surrender. Whatever crime he 
may have committed he is entitled to a trial. 

Captain (sheathing his sword) : You are right. He 
must die by the judgment of a court-martial. (To 
Bugene:) Lieutenant, your sword. (Bugene hands 
his sword, zvhich Cap tarn Stamm breaks, throwing 
the pieces at his feet.) That for the sword of a 
traitor. (To Orderly:) Remove the prisoners. 

(A commotion at the door. A voice, ''The Gen- 
eral I" The soldiers line up and stand at attention. 
Salute. Bnter General von Freiberg.) 

General: Captain, let me congratulate you upon your 
victory. Your coup was well planned and brilliantly 
executed. I will ercommend you for the Iron Cross. 
What's the matter with you, Albert ; you don't seem 
to be overjoyed? 

Captain : I am in deep trouble, General. (Pointing to 
Bugene:) This is my son. 

General : What, Eugene ! in French uniform and bear- 
ing arms against his native land? (To Bugene:) 
Young man, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. 






75 



The son of such a father and a traitor! What is 
this world coming to? {To Orderly:) Take your 
prisoners. 

(Exit Orderly and soldiers.) 

General : This is a serious business, Albert. You know 
what it means. 

Captain : Let the traitor die. That he had never been 
born. Oh, my Eugene, he was such a good boy, a 
dutiful son, and so talented. You know I had never 
intended him for a military career. He seemed so 
timid and retiring, like a girl. Eva was the boy of 
the family. But I had intended him to become a 
great artist. His mother insisted upon his studying 
in Paris. I was weak enough to consent. Of course, 
no one foresaw this war and now the death of a 
traitor. 

General : We must save him. 

Captain : I save the betrayer of his country? 

General: He is your son. The times of Brutus have 
passed. In our days a father is not justified in sac- 
rificing his son for reason of state. 

Captain : I am not his judge. 

General: You are implicated in this affair and owe 
your son the duty of a natural guardian and pro- 
tector. 

Captain : What can be done ? The damage is beyond 
repair. 

General (whispering) : Mightn't he escape? 

Captain : General, you are not serious ? That would be 



76 



a grave military crime. The facts are known and I 
would be charged with complicity. Eugene would 
not accept life on such terms. I know the boy. 
Whatever may be the errors of his ways, he would 
never consent to liberty at the cost of his father's 
honor. 

General : An appeal to the Emperor. 

Captain : The Emperor is far away and court-martials 
act with fearful speed. 

General: Let me think. Some way must be found to 
save that young life. 

(Commotion outside.) 

Mrs. Stamm : Let me in, I say ! I must see my hus- 
band ! (Rushes in with soldier in pursuit, trying to 
restrain her.) 

Captain (to General): Good God, his mother! Keep 
it from her. (To Mrs. Stamm:) Triene, where do 
you come from, and in this condition? 

Mrs. Stamm: Where is Eugene? Have you killed the 
boy? 

Captain : The boy is alive and well. 

Mrs. Stamm: Then he has escaped. Thank God! 

General : He is a prisoner. 

Mrs. Stamm : A prisoner of war? Can I see him? 

Captain : I fear it will not be possible at present. 

General (taking Captain aside) : You can't keep the 
mother from seeing her boy before — the inevitable. 

Mrs. Stamm: What are you men whispering about? 



77 

Why are you so embarrassed? Albert, did you lie 
to me? Is Eugene dead and will I never see him 
again ? 

General: Madam, be calm, your son is still alive. 

Captain : He was taken bearing arms against his 
country. 

General : That is a crime for which he will have to be 
tried by court-martial. 

Mrs. Stamm : Court-martial! I know your court-mar- 
tials. They convict first and try afterwards. 

General: It is a sad duty. 

Mrs. Stamm: Duty! What do you cruel men know 
about duty? With your stupid law and savage code 
of honor? Duty is not a mathematical term. Duty 
is not an exact science. You cannot judge duty by 
your standard. What you men call duty we women 
call inhumanity. It may be justifiable to kill a 
human being as a matter of self-preservation ; it may 
be excusable to meet an avowed enemy in open 
battle, where each man is armed to slay. But it is 
neither justifiable nor excusable for strong men in 
cold blood to murder an inoffensive boy because his 
views of duty do not coincide with theirs, or because 
he may have been led astray by temptations, the 
impulsion of which you old men have long since 
forgotten. For such an act your conscience will 
condemn you. God will punish you and history will 
brand you as the blood-stained butchers that you are ! 

Captain : Restrain yourself, Triene. Your language is 
unfit for the wife of a soldier. 



78 



Mrs. Stamm : This is no time for restraint; this is no 
occasion for hypocrisy and deceit. It demands a 
sacrifice to prevent a crime. Albert, Eugene is not 
your son and he is a Frenchman ! 

Captain (grasps her arm) : Woman, is that true? Where 
is the man that I may kill him? 

Mrs. Stamm: What man? 

Captain : The man who seduced you from your mar- 
riage vows — the man who defiled my home ! I want 
revenge ! 

Mrs. Stamm : You suspect that I (Covers her 

face.) Oh, God! such a charge from my own hus- 
band, whom I have loved loyally for more than 
twenty-five years, whom I have honored and served 
on my very knees ! How willing you men are to 
suspect our loyalty. I am not his mother. 

Captain : Not his mother ? 

Mrs. Stamm : Albert, I have deceived you, and have 
suffered for years and years for that deception, but 
not the way you suspect. Listen. My family is of 
ancient French extraction. We children were born 
in Lorraine, some before, some after the annexation 
to Germany. At heart we were all French. I had 
a younger sister whom I cherished with all my heart. 
She was betrayed — not by a Frenchman. When the 
result of that misstep could no longer be concealed 
she went to Verdun, on a visit to friends, as she 
claimed. It was partly to hide her shame and partly 
to have her child born on French soil, because she 
hated Germany and all it stood for. At that time you 
were on a political expedition in Africa. Our child 



79 



was a few months old when you left, and both of us 
adored it. It died during your absence. I had not 
the courage to inform you. It was wrong, it was 
cowardly, I know. When sister's child was born, 
shortly after the death of my own, I, heartbroken and 
lonesome, gladly adopted it as mine. The substitution 
took place with the aid of a nurse. It was Eugene. I 
came to love the child, and when, after many months, 
we were reunited at a distant garrison, I would not 
part with it. You never discovered the deception, 
which a mother would have noticed at a glance. You 
men are so blind. My sister married an old man 
who adored her. She could not disclose to him her 
shame, and so the boy remained with me for years. 
After the death of her husband she yearned for her 
child, and we contrived to have him sent to Paris 
for her comfort and for the sake of his art. You 
men are so easily deceived. He became French to 
his heart and soul, as it was intended that he should 
be, although that fact caused me many a tear. Con- 
stance is his mother. 
Captain: Your sister Constance? Incredible! 

Mrs. Stamm (listlessly) : Here is the proof. I brought 
it along. I felt the war would imperatively force a 
confession. (She takes a bundle of papers from a 
bag and hands them to General, zvho examines 
them.) 

General : Certificate of birth and baptism at Verdun — 
letters from Eugene's mother. Everything in per- 
fect order. The proof is complete. (Sfaps Captain 
on shoulder.) Good news, old friend. This changes 
the complexion of affairs. (Kisses Mrs. Stamm' s 



80 



hand.) Madam, I sympathize with you and thank 
you from the bottom of my heart for your timely 
confession. 

Captain : I am stunned. I do not know what to say. 
(Places arm around his wife tenderly.) Don't cry, 
Triene. I don't blame you. Everything has turned 
out all right. 

General : The boy — we must not leave him in suspense. 
(Calls through doorway:) Orderly, bring up the 
French Lieutenant. He is to be treated with the 
greatest distinction as a brave soldier. Do you hear ? 

(Enter Eugene. Seeing Mrs. Stamm, he embraces her.) 

Eugene : Oh, Mother, I am so glad to see you ! 

Mrs. Stamm : My boy, my dear boy! 

General (shakes Eugene's hand warmly) : Lieutenant, 
I want to congratulate you upon your courage and 
masterly defense. I hear you fought like a lion. 

Captain (embracing him) : Eugene, I am proud of you. 
You are a brave soldier and an excellent leader. 

Eugene (stunned) : What does this mean? 

Captain : It is a long story. Mother, you tell him. 

(Mrs. Stamm and Eugene walk up stage in earnest 
conversation.) 

General (wiping his face) : The perspiration runs down 
my cheeks. Captain, you and I had a narrow escape 
from the participation in a crime, which would have 
tortured our souls in this life and during several 
million years of a hereafter. The saying that a 
woman is at the bottom of things is only half a 



81 



truth. As a rule there are at least two women in 
the sub-cellar. 

Captain : Since I have found my Eugene again I am 
sorry to lose him as a son. 

General : At one time, however, you were willing 

Captain : Don't speak of it. I must have been insane. 

General : I knew you would not have sacrificed him, and 
I would have allowed him to escape if I had had to 
kick him out. Even soldiers are white in spots. 

Eugene {coming down stage) : Only a few minutes ago 
I was a traitor because I was German, now I am a 
hero because I am a Frenchman. It is perplexing. 

General : Yes, my boy, from a hero to a traitor is but 
one step, across an imaginary boundary line. 
(Listening.) What in thunder is this? It sounds 
like an invasion from Hades. 

(Enter Eva in the clothes of a peasant girl, rushes 
toward Eugene and embraces him.) 

Eva : Oh, Eugene, I have found you at last, and wounded, 
poor brother! 

Captain: Eva, where do you come from? I thought 
you were a captive at a farmhouse ? 

Eva : Puh, for your captivity ! I am my father's daugh- 
ter and your whole army couldn't keep me in prison. 
I broke open the door, climbed over the fence, and 
here I am. (To Eugene:) And you were not locked 
up in a dungeon, dear brother? 

Captain : He is not your brother. 
Eva : Not my brother ! How is that ? 



82 



Captain : He is your foster brother. We adopted him 
when he was quite young. 

Eugene : But I am your cousin. 

Mrs. Stamm : Aunt Constance is his mother. 

Eva ; Aunt Constance ! And I thought So the dear 

Constance is your poor old mother (laughs). Ex- 
cuse me, but it is too funny! 

Eugene : I don't see the joke. 

Eva: You don't? You never will. It is on me, and I 
won't tell. 

(Enter Franz in doorway leading from cellar.) 

Captain: Who is this? What, Franz? Where did you 
drop down from? 

Franz (ruefully) : I dropped up from the cellar. 

Captain: Did you hide in the cellar? You, a German 
soldier ? 

Franz: I was forced to. I was a prisoner of war. 

Captain : Where were you taken ? 

Franz : On your damned automobile. It wouldn't 
budge an inch. It seemed to be frightened stiff when 
it saw the Frenchmen. 

Captain : What became of the machine? 

Franz : The poor thing is dead ; it exploded from fright. 
Heart disease. 

(General, zvho has been conversing with Mrs. 
Stamm, turns and sees Frans.) 

General: Why, Franz, my dear boy. (Embraces him.) 



83 



I am so glad to see you again. Your mother has 
been worrying about you. (To Captain:) This is 
my boy, Franz. 

Captain : Your son? I knew him as Franz Frei. 

Franz : I dropped the "berg" when I left home. 

General : Franz has imbibed some socialistic notions 
about capital and labor and the idle rich. He would 
not be supported by his father, so he left home to 
make what he calls his career by honest toil. I sup- 
pose he had all the toil he looked for, but found it 
hard to be honest, and as for the career, I assume it 
is in the dim future. (To Franz:) Well, boy, I 
am glad that your socialism did not keep you from 
the service. 

Captain (takes Bva by the hand, leading her to Franz) : 
Since he is the son of my dear friend whom I have 
known in his early childhood, Eva, take your 
Franz. 

Eva : My Franz ! What shall I do with him ? 

Captain : Why, didn't you — aren't you 

Eva: Foolish Papa! You men are so dense. We are 
nothing to each other except very good friends. I 
believe his heart is with someone who might very 
seriously object to the intrusion of another. (To 
Franz:) Where is she, he, it? 

Franz : She is down in the cellar. 

Eva: What? In the subterranean dungeons of the en- 
chanted castle? 

Franz: I will get her. (Calls at entrance to cellar:) 
Birdie, the coast is clear! 



84 



(Enter Bella.) 

Eva (embracing her): Oh, Bella, dear, you are safe! 
I was so worried. 

Franz (takes her hand and leads her to the General) : 
Father, I have concluded to marry this boy. 

General: Well, appearances furnish no assurances of 
domesticity, but since he is your choice, I gladly give 
my consent. (Embraces her.) 

Eugene (taking Eva, with whom he has earnestly con- 
versed, to Captain) : Father — for I will still call 
you so — Eva and I have concluded that cousinship is 
not a sufficiently close relation, and since we can't 
be sister and brother, we have become engaged. 

Mrs. Stamm (smiling) : What, Eva? You a patriotic 
German, marry a Frenchman? 

Eva (hiding her face on her mother s bosom) : Mama, 
love knows no country and marriage recognizes no 
boundary line. 

(Enter Orderly.) 

Orderly : A large body of French cavalry and artillery 
is crossing the mountains to the west. It looks like 
an army corps. 

General: We must waste no time. Orderly, detail a 
squad as an escort for our prisoners and the ladies. 
Let the company fall in for retreat across the border 
and have my staff mount their horses. I will be 
down presently. 

Orderly: Yes, sir. (Exit.) 

General : Captain, you have done well on French soil, 



85 



but a company even of German soldiers cannot well 
engage with an army of the enemy. Retreat under 
such conditions is a necessity, not a disgrace. (To 
Franz:) Franz, my boy, you are detailed as an Or- 
derly on my staff. After the war we will take meas- 
ures to have you earn an honest living instead of 
being compelled to starve. (To Eugene:) Lieutenant, 
I am sorry that you must still be considered a prisoner 
of war, but I will take the responsibility of placing 
you in the care of your intended, provided I have 
your word of honor that you will not escape. 

Eva (taking Eugene's arm) : Escape? I give my word 
of honor that the prisoner will not escape — me. 

Gknkral : Your word is abundant under the circum- 
stances and the prisoner is paroled into your cus- 
tody. Captain, let us see whether things are ready 
for retreat. (To Franz:) Sergeant, follow me and 
report to my chief of staff. Ladies, we will meet 
before you depart. (Exit General, Captain and 
Franz. ) 

(Enter Contsance from side door leading to 
cellar. ) 

Constance: Eugene! 

Eugkne (who has conversed with the ladies, turns 
abruptly and, perceiving Constance, hurries to her, 
sinks down to his knee and covers her hands zuith 
kisses): Constance! Mother! Dearest mother! 

Constancy (raising him and embracing him fervently) : 
You know, my dear child. And can you forgive your 
erring mother ? 



86 



Eugene:: There is nothing to forgive. I can only re- 
member the years of loving devotion with which you 
have enriched me, and for which I can never suffi- 
ciently compensate you. 

{During that scene the other ladies have shown 
differing emotions: Mrs. Stamm, pleasure mixed 
with surprise; Bva, jealous attention; Bella, deep 
interest. ) 

Mrs. Stamm {hurrying toward Constance to embrace 
her) : Dear sister ! What a pleasant surprise. How 
did you get here? 

Constance: I came in advance of the army. I feared 
for Eugene. I left my automobile at the greenhouse 
in the rear and hurried to the chateau through the 
cellar vaults with which it connects. 

Eugene {to Bva) : Dearest, come to our mother. {She 
approaches, hesitating. He leads her to Constance.) 
Mother, let me introduce to you my future wife. 

Constance: Is that little Eva, your sister? 

Eugene : My former sister, who has promised to be more 
to me. 

Constance: You surprise me, but if she is your elect 
she must be worthy of my boy. {To Bva:) Come 
to my arms, dear daughter. {Bva embraces her, 
still someivhat distant and doubtful.) {To Bugene:) 
And now, my boy, come with me and join our 
friends. 

Eugene : Why, Mother, I am a prisoner of war. 
Constance: Not now, since I have led an army to the 
rescue. 



87 



Eva (anxiously) : Eugene, you will not 

Eugene;: Fear not, dear heart. Your sword binds me 
safer than chains of steel. (To Constance:) I 
cannot. I am under parole. 

Constance: (sadly) : I perceive. Love of a woman has 
turned you from your country. 

Eugene: : Do not say so, Mother. I was willing to sac- 
rifice my life for France, and would gladly do so 
again if opportunity offered, but I cannot sacrifice my 
honor. I was relieved from actual restraint upon 
my parole and there is no such thing as a rescue or 
escape from my word of honor. I would be dis- 
honored among my colleagues in France as I would 
be among pur German foes. Mother, come with us. 

Constance: : No, no, my child. Perhaps in better days, 
after this war. Now my country needs me. I cannot 
betray or leave it. Hush ! I hear steps. I must 
not be seen by our enemies. Good-bye, my dearest, 
until we meet again. (Exit.) 

(Enter General and Captain.) 

General : Ladies, everything is ready for departure. 
Your comfort is provided for. Duty calls me. Let 
me bid you good-bye. A pleasant journey and may 
we soon meet again. (To Captain:) Friend Albert, 
my prophesies are coming true. Our modern trend 
is towards the extinction of the race, but wars do not 
last forever. The conflagration is bound to subside 
for lack of fuel, and let us hope that from the wreck 
of our civilization there may arise a race who are 
willing to bring to earth the kingdom which reigns 



in heaven by a new proclamation of the brotherhood 
of men. 

(Curtain.) 




